In the early hours of last Saturday morning one of our students died of an apparent suicide. Many of us are deeply saddened and in shock over this loss. This, therefore, seemed to be an opportune time to republish the article below, which appeared in The Polytechnic last year. It focuses on how we all can recognize and minimize the likelihood of someone who is deeply depressed killing themselves, and also what to watch for and what to do.
I need to stress the word minimize, since sometimes no matter what we do we still cannot prevent the suicide from taking place; no matter how we try we can miss the warning signs listed below. When a suicide does occur it can evoke a wide range of feelings including grief/sadness, guilt, anxiety and anger. Sometimes there is no noticeable emotional reaction at all, or a feeling of numbness. Any of these reactions can occur, and they are all equally “normal.” The most valuable supports at such times are each other; loved ones, friends, family etc. The Counseling Center, located within the Health Center on the third floor of Academy Hall, is just one of the many supports available for students on campus. Appointments can be made by calling 276-6479. A staff member from the Counseling Center can also be reached after office hours by contacting Public Safety (276-6656) and asking to speak to the counselor on call.
Watch for Telltale Signs
Most of us have had, or will have, fleeting thoughts of death as a means of escaping from an unpleasant situation at some time in our lives. It is when the thoughts are more than just fleeting that there is need for concern.
The National College Health Risk Behavior study (1995) has found that as many as 11.4% of college students have seriously considered attempting suicide. The National College Health Assessment Survey, done in the Spring 2003 semester (33 schools and 19,497 student participants), produced essentially the same results; 10 percent indicated having seriously considered suicide during the preceding year.
Data reported at http://www.ulifeline.org/ (an online behavioral support system for college-aged students) indicates that 1 in 12 college students (8.33 percent) go so far as to make a suicide plan, and 7.5 of every 100,000 succeed in taking their lives.
Ninety percent of adolescent suicide victims have at least one diagnosable/treatable disorder, but only 15 percent were in treatment at the time of death. How many deaths could have been prevented if more were in treatment?
What to say or do
Those at risk of suicide are feeling depressed, hopeless, and isolated. You can help someone break this pattern by approaching them with a show of genuine concern. For example, “I’ve noticed you’ve been feeling down for a while. I’m concerned about you. Is there anything I can do to help?” If they dismiss your impression as being inaccurate, just respond with something like “Good, I’m glad you’re okay. If there ever is something upsetting you, I’m around if you need me.” Just knowing that someone cares can make all the difference.
If they do admit to feeling depressed don’t be afraid to ask “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” The more specific a plan one has for suicide the higher the risk.
If the person does sound like they are considering suicide the first thing to do is just listen, encouraging the person to express their feelings. It is important to acknowledge your understanding of their feelings. Don’t try to minimize it by voicing platitudes such as “Things will get better,” or “Look at the bright side,” “You have so much to live for.” Such statements just will make the person feel that you haven’t understood what they are experiencing which will add to their feeling of isolation. Try, instead, to put into your own words what you hear them saying about how they feel (i.e. “You’re saying it hurts so badly you’d rather not wake up in the morning, etc.”).
Remove or get them to give up anything that could be immediately lethal. This will reduce the likelihood of an impulsive suicidal act, and communicates your concern and willingness to intervene.
If you find the person has a timetable or a plan, take it seriously. Don’t leave them alone, or be brushed off by, “I’m okay now.”
Keep the person talking about what is bothering them and direct them towards getting professional help right away. If the person is a Rensselaer student have them call the Counseling Center (276-6479), or call our office yourself. Someone can be reached from the Counseling Center 24 hours a day by calling public safety at 276-6656. If it is during office hours, walk the student over to us. If the person is not a Rensselaer student, contact someone in their community (emergency mental health line, family, clergy, doctor). It is better to risk the person being angry at you for violating a confidence, than to have the person kill themselves.
Screenings for Depression
There are many options for you or someone you care about to find out if they are dealing with depression. First, the Counseling Center will be conducting Depression Screening Days on October 5, and October 12 from 1-4 pm on both days. The location will be announced shortly. The screenings are free, confidential, and no appointment is needed.
There are also many online options on the Counseling Center website (http://studenthealth.rpi.edu/) under the Additional Counseling Resources link. For confidential online screenings, you can try Mental Health Screenings for issue such as depression, alcohol abuse, and anxiety/post traumatic stress disorder. There is also the “self evaluator” at http://www.ulifeline.org/ for assessing your own level of suicide risk. It too is confidential and free. Another excellent website is http://www.stopasuicide.com/.
Depression is not the only issue college students deal with. Stress, academic issues, relationships, and anxiety are just a few of the variety of college-related issues. If you would like to make an appointment to talk about any mental health issue, please give us a call. If you have any questions about these events or websites, please feel free to contact us through the Counseling Center website or by calling the number above.
