It happens at U.Va.

It's a tough fact to face.

According to the National Mental Health Association, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students. Nearly a third of adolescents who commit suicide have made a previous attempt. In fact, NMHA studies predict that by the end of December, at least 1,000 American college students will have lost their lives this year to this dangerous trend.

Although last week's apparent suicide attempt on the Beta Bridge train tracks may have taken many by surprise, the University's near tragedy actually serves as a wake-up call: College suicide is not unusual -- many professionals even consider it a widespread medical emergency.

In the last 20 to 25 years, the University's student suicide rate has generally coincided with figures among campuses nationwide, culminating in an average of one to two suicides per year, said Lenny Carter, crisis management coordinator for the University's Counseling and Psychological Services.

Although the national suicide rate has declined slightly in recent years, Carter still feels the problem has reached a crisis point.

"This is an enormous public health issue that, as a society, we haven't done much about," he said. "When you go to the doctor he checks your blood pressure, but does he check you for suicidality?"

If the 2000 American College Health survey is any indicator, over 11 percent of college students contemplated suicide last year, and 1.7 percent actually made a non-fatal attempt

- the equivalent of about 300 students at U.Va., Carter said.

According to psychologist Dr. Deborah Permut, who runs a private practice in Maryland, there is no single reason why individuals take their lives.

But several factors might increase a person's risk of turning to suicide, and these factors often converge during college years, Permut said.

"Almost any of the daily problems faced by students -- breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, any loss of a loved one, failing an exam, not getting into a sorority -- can cause someone who feels generally hopeless to become overwhelmed," Permut said. "Negative feelings about oneself lead to feelings of worthlessness. Suicide can look like the only way to end their pain."

College also can exacerbate an individual's tendency to attempt suicide because "alcohol and other substances are readily available to students. Hopelessness and substances are a very bad combination," she said.

She added that many individuals are pre-disposed to such feelings of hopelessness by early life experiences.

Russ Federman, director of the University's CAPS, agreed that the conditions of college life can spur suicidal tendencies.

"Late adolescence and early adulthood can be turbulent times where individuals are facing a multitude of converging pressures to perform, to achieve, to manage complex relationships, to develop independence and autonomy and to decide where they are going with their lives," Federman said. "That's a lot to handle concurrently and depression is not an uncommon consequence."

Given the correlation between college years and suicide rates, it might come as no surprise that some parents of suicide victims are suing schools for negligence and other abuses.

In an article published last May by the Chronicle of Higher Education, Allan J. Schwartz, associate professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, said universities often fear intervention could serve as grounds for blame or accountability if their attempts prove unsuccessful.

"Part of the difficulty for schools in intervening in suicidal situations is that if they give an indication that they have the potential to effectively prevent suicides, then the likelihood that it will be interpreted as a guarantee is high," Schwartz said.

The concern of costly litigation often forces school administrators to consider factors beyond a student's mental health.

Federman said he feels universities do have a special obligation regarding students' emotional well being.

"If universities are going to help guide students through their formative years, then responding to students' difficulties should be in an integral part of the process," Federman said.

"More and more students come to universities with preexisting psychiatric conditions, and sometimes the pressures of school do precipitate relapses. So yes, the need to provide services are definitely there," he added.

Federman also said that the challenge lies in continuing to provide adequate resources when resources are limited, particularly now that the state has been forced to cut school budgets.

"We're at a point where we should be expanding our clinical services for students, but our ability to easily do so is very constricted," Federman said.

Despite budget cuts, the University does offer a full range of clinical services for students who are depressed and having suicidal thoughts, sponsored by the University's Suicide Prevention Program, that opened in 1996.

These services include individual psychotherapy appointments, walk-in sessions for students in urgent situations, and even a 24-hour hotline manned by an on-call clinician. In addition, Madison House sponsors its own emergency helpline.

Carter said CAPS walk-in service is popular with students who are experiencing emotional difficulties.

"During heavy months, we'll see upwards of 20 students per week," he said. "We like to think we've helped the community by preventing at least a couple suicides."

Patrick English, Program Director for Helpline, a service provide through Madison House, said, although the service is not limited to suicide calls, student volunteers are well equipped to respond to such an emergency. The program's participants, who are required to remain anonymous and undergo a semester of instruction, devote two weeks of their training to suicide exclusively. When responding to a suicide call, students use an in-depth flow chart of questions in assessing the situation.

"Every case is different, but by providing general guidelines, we can help determine the best course of action," English said.

Federman advises students who are concerned about the emotional condition of a friend or loved one to inquire about their feelings, and urge them to take advantage of University resources.

"Simply asking will not make suicidal behavior more likely, but will open up dialogue which may facilitate a student's getting help," he said. "The most underutilized and effective means of suicide prevention is referral for professional help, and at U.Va., that help is only a phone call away."

Read More

United Healthcare takes over as student health insurance provider

By Lauren Seeliger | 2 hours ago

All University students are required to be medically insured, but the University student plan is only required for students who do not have other, valid health insurance.

---

University community leaders gather at the Rotunda to speak about interim President Mahoney

By Xander Tilock | 7 hours ago

Each speaker addressed concerns over a lack of input from students, faculty, staff and community members in the circumstances which led to former University President Jim Ryan’s resignation and the decision-making process since then.

---

Student Council passes vote of no confidence in the Board of Visitors

By Cecilia Mould | 2 days ago

According to the resolution, the Board failed to respond to Student Council’s July 15 requests and has ignored student leaders’ concern with the current selection process.