by Rachel Yates
Statics show that each year 34,598 people die by suicide. The rate of suicides on campus alone are between .5 and 7.5 per 100,000 students.
One in ten colleges have made a plan for suicides if they happen on campus. Studies by Emory University don’t just stop with these numbers, they continue to show that an average of 94 people complete suicides every day.
But why do students fall into such a dark hole that they think they cannot get out of? The American Institute of Stress said that in a mental health study in 2008 college students say they have sometimes or frequently experienced stress in their daily lives over the past three months.
This is an increase of 20% from a survey they did ve years ago “Stress is a well-known contributor to mood, mental disorders, and suicide risk,” said Charles E. Kubly Foundation.
Stress is something the average person faces constantly and throughout the college years stress can become much more pronounced in ones life.
With exams, term papers, quizzes, and homework all due at the same time on the same day, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed out.
Healthy ways to release stress are going for a walk, talking to friends, writing, lighting scented candles, reading, petting animals, or even just curling up and reading a good book, according to www.helpguide.org .
Depression is another symptom of suicide. 44% of American college students report of having symptoms of depression. 75% of college students do not reach out for help when facing with depression.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among college students. Younger people diagnosed with depression are five times more likely to attempt suicide than adults.
Helpful tools when facing depression are simply talking to someone, fighting through the hard times, and thinking more positive thoughts. These steps may seem difficult but depression is a mental illness that anyone can get over if one just seeks for help.
Bullying is also a major cause of suicide. By being hateful and abusive to one another, either verbally or physically, can end up taking effect on people.
“Students who report any involvement with bullying behavior are more likely to report high levels of suicide-related behavior than youth who do not report any involvement with bullying behavior,” said The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide: What We Know and What it Means for Schools.
Thinking about harming oneself or others, feeling hopeless, rage or uncontrolled anger towards oneself or others, feeling trapped, increasing alcohol or drug use, and acting reckless or engaging in risky activities are just a few examples of signs students may face when leaning towards suicide actions. In 2014, the highest suicide rate was 19.3 among people 85 years or older. The second highest rate was 19.2 people between the ages of 45-64. Young adults between 15-24 years old suicide rate was 11.6.
The numbers continue to increase every single day.
Suicide is such a leading death in America that during Sept. 5-11 Americans hold a National Suicide Prevention Week. This week is filled with encouraging post on social media about how it gets better.
Although many cannot see the end of a dark tunnel, encouragement may be all one needs to steer away from suicide. The American Association of Suicidology encourages friends to talk to one another when someone is feeling down. So if one is having suicidal thoughts, reach out, people on campus, professors, and friends will be willing to help anyone through tough times.
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