Suicide help on the rise
By: Martina Ballard
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: News
Three weeks ago, a University of Memphis journalism student took her own life, and research shows that many students want to do the same.
Tiffany Harris, senior journalism major, is in the process of healing her life after turbulent times led her to attempt suicide twice.
"I didn't wanna see anything else, I just felt like I couldn't. My future, people who love me, everything, my grades - all that did not matter at the moment," Harris said.
Harris is not alone because more than fifty percent of college students have had suicidal thoughts at some point during their lifetime. Twenty six thousand students from twenty colleges and universities completed a survey on their suicidal experiences. Although more than half of the students reported having suicidal thoughts, only 5 percent reported actually attempting to commit suicide at least once in the past.
The survey was done in 2006, by the National Research Consortium of Counseling Centers in Higher Education. The Web-based survey was completed by 26,000 students from 70 colleges, and universities. And they took a closer look at the suicidal thoughts and behaviors among college students. The American Psychological Association, analyzed data from the survey, and reported their findings a few weeks ago.
The researchers estimate that an average college/university with 18,000 undergraduate students will have about 1,080 undergraduates who seriously think about ending their own life at least one time within a year. And out of those students who think about committing suicide, two-thirds will have those thoughts several times within one year.
People may wonder what it is about college life that has so many students thinking about ending it all.
Carl Gilleylen, director of the Center for Counseling, Learning and Testing at The U of M, said there are many reasons why students might reach their breaking point.
"There are a lot of stressors on students including trying to work while they are in college, but usually it is something that has to do with a history of depression," Gilleylen said.
Tiffany Harris, senior journalism major, is in the process of healing her life after turbulent times led her to attempt suicide twice.
"I didn't wanna see anything else, I just felt like I couldn't. My future, people who love me, everything, my grades - all that did not matter at the moment," Harris said.
Harris is not alone because more than fifty percent of college students have had suicidal thoughts at some point during their lifetime. Twenty six thousand students from twenty colleges and universities completed a survey on their suicidal experiences. Although more than half of the students reported having suicidal thoughts, only 5 percent reported actually attempting to commit suicide at least once in the past.
The survey was done in 2006, by the National Research Consortium of Counseling Centers in Higher Education. The Web-based survey was completed by 26,000 students from 70 colleges, and universities. And they took a closer look at the suicidal thoughts and behaviors among college students. The American Psychological Association, analyzed data from the survey, and reported their findings a few weeks ago.
The researchers estimate that an average college/university with 18,000 undergraduate students will have about 1,080 undergraduates who seriously think about ending their own life at least one time within a year. And out of those students who think about committing suicide, two-thirds will have those thoughts several times within one year.
People may wonder what it is about college life that has so many students thinking about ending it all.
Carl Gilleylen, director of the Center for Counseling, Learning and Testing at The U of M, said there are many reasons why students might reach their breaking point.
"There are a lot of stressors on students including trying to work while they are in college, but usually it is something that has to do with a history of depression," Gilleylen said.