Suicide Prevention

It had been two years since he was laid off by Cleveland State University.

His call-back date had passed, and he was no longer eligible for a job at this school.

 Shortly after, the former CSU staff member was found in a janitor's closet on campus, having hanged himself.

 Students and faculty were in disbelief. Nobody expected an incident as tragic and gruesome as this to happen to someone affiliated with CSU, let alone at their place of education. The atmosphere of the student body was thick with anxiety, confusion and fear.

 "I was shocked and scared," said Graphic Design major Samah Ibrahim. "My first reaction was, 'Why would someone do that to themself?'"

 Abraham is not the only one confused by suicide. It is a taboo subject that does not usually escape many people's mouths in fear of it bringing dangerous ideations into the heads of others. It is a disturbing, saddening issue that people wish could be prevented, yet many prefer not to speak about it.

Not shockingly, suicide is something that many people do not know much about.

Suicide is undoubtedly a loaded topic that does not seem to receive much explanation or coverage when it does occur. It is quite often that someone will come across a suicide report while watching the evening news, but there is not much elaboration—and the viewers are left with an unanswered question: What drove this person to take their own life?

In order to prevent suicide from occurring in the future, society must understand its rhyme and reason instead of avoiding the topic. As difficult as it may be, one must separate oneself from the emotions linked to suicide and put oneself in the mind of an individual who is contemplating the act.

Understanding Suicide

According to Suicide.org, suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in the general population. Approximately 30,000 people die of suicide each year in the U.S. while around 750,000 people attempt the act.

Psychologists agree that the primary factor of suicide is untreated depression,

"People become depressed for a lot of different reasons," said Dr. Bruce Menapace, psychologist at CSU's Counseling Center. "It can be due to the individual's biological brain chemistry, a reaction to different life stressors or if someone has lost a loved one."

Depression may also find its way to an individual coping with chronic illnesses, as well as a loss of identity or self-esteem. Everyone experiences the blues from time to time, but for clinically depressed and suicidal people it is not just a short stint. Time heals wounds for those who are temporarily feeling down, but depression cannot simply be cured with time; it runs much deeper. It occurs when extreme sadness lasts for at least two weeks or longer, interfering with activities of daily life while causing the individual to feel hopeless and helpless.

"People that are depressed may think with all-or-nothing terms, or black and white thinking," Menapace said. "It's either all good or all bad."

These negative thoughts can lead to suicidal thinking and behavior.

Signs to Watch For

For clinically depressed or suicidal individuals, the signs range from an extreme change in eating patterns and sleeping patterns to morbid thinking. It is also common that the person will withdraw themselves from family and friends, as well as from activities they would otherwise deem pleasurable. Menapace calls this state of mood change the "couch potato" mode.

Another distinct sign is unexpected mood swings, such as crying for little to no reason. If a friend is usually jovial and is suddenly acting self-critical or irritable, something is definitely wrong. It is essential that people look for these signs in themselves and loved ones.

Other symptoms include body aches, statements of hopelessness, change of school performance and lack of motivation.

College Suicides

According to Dr. Janilee Wheaton, CSU associate director for counseling and testing, suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students. Approximately 1,100 students die from suicide each year. Approximately 130 suicides were reported on university campuses in the U.S last year.

"About 50 percent of students have suicidal ideations and thoughts," Wheaton said.

Due to all the stress that comes packaged with college, these thoughts are understandable. College holds life-changing and transitional experiences that are not always the easiest to handle. These adversities an individual may be faced with at school play a huge part in their mental health.

"I believe it all revolves around stress," said Julian Neal, Finance and Economics major. "The stress of making good grades, pressure from parents, and trying to fit in."

Students also at high risk of depression and suicide are usually the ones that tend to feel disconnected, alone and alienated from other students.

"At one point, I thought about committing suicide," said Rachel Strongoli, a Drawing and Studio major. "I remember driving to school all the time and constantly contemplating swerving into an oncoming car. I felt so alone."

Strongoli also said she believes people should surround themselves with good influences, which is what she decided to do.

"If you have the right people around you that care about you, you won't be stressed," Strongoli said. "I realized that if I keep my head in the present, that'll become the past and take care of the future."

Psychologists agree the highest suicide rates, especially in colleges, are among gay and lesbian youth.

Last year a male student at Rutgers University was secretly videotaped having relations with another male. The video was posted on the Internet, and the student caught on tape committed suicide in response.