<p>There but for the grace of God, go I, mallen1. My heart goes out to you.</p>
<p>I asked a psychiatrist how they know about suicides at colleges and he was well aware of schools that are potentially riskier for some young people. </p>
<p>We were aware of rates during the application process and took it into account.</p>
<p>Where did the psychiatrist get that data?</p>
<p>I did not ask that question, TheGFG. It did not matter to me at that time. I just wanted to know if information was available. I figured it appeared in medical journals.</p>
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<p>This is certainly quite possible. However, I do not believe that colleges have a particular burden of responsibility to identify and supervise psychologically fragile students. Recently, Cornell was sued by the parents of a student who jumped off a bridge, because the barriers apparently were insufficiently high. This strikes me as very sad but definitely an inappropriate placement of responsibility.</p>
<p>Many parents and friends are shocked and surprised when a loved one tries to commit suicide. I do not see how they can expect an institution to be more sensitive to the moods of the student than they were. I am not trying to pass judgment, and I can’t imagine how painful it must be to lose a child in this way. Suicide is a tragic mystery. But it’s not always someone else’s fault, nor is the college to blame. That is why I think suicide rates, if accurate ones can even exist, are not generally relevant in the choice of a college. An otherwise psychologically stable student is not going to be driven to suicide by Cornell or William and Mary.</p>
<p>I think another thing people have to keep in mind is that correlation doesn’t always mean causation. Perhaps people who are at risk of committing suicide are more likely to attend the schools where suicide rates are high?</p>
<p>IMO, highly competitive kids tend to be strung a bit tighter. Mine isn’t interested in competing with your kid, but she sure is hard on herself.</p>
<p>Many high achievers skate through school and when they are not the superstars-- or worse are failing at something for the first time–it can be devastating. So much of their identity is tied to their academics.</p>
<p>With regards to the students who had to sign papers agreeing not to spread rumors about the suicide, many times this has more to do with the fear of chain suicides than negative press.</p>
<p>A girl on my freshman dorm hall slit her wrists. Fortunately, her roommate found her in time. </p>
<p>As a college grad and parent of 2 college attendees, I have observed that the late-teen, early-20s years seem especially emotionally rocky. The experts on this thread can elaborate, but I recall reading that schizophrenia rears its head during these years, and probably other mental conditions?</p>
<p>I would like to see colleges take a very pro-active approach in this regard.</p>
<p>Where I come from details about suicides are hardly ever mentioned in newspapers. However, statistics specified per group (area, age, f/m, student/occupation etc.) are widely available. The justification is that suicide is somewhat contagious (do not take this too literally). When I was a student myself (35+ years ago) it felt as if friends and acquaintances who had committed suicide were ignored by society. I’ve changed my opinion. I’m convinced now that lives were saved by this careful approach.</p>
<p>This is a very interesting discussion. To the poster whose son was a victim, I am so very sorry…</p>
<p>Someone mentioned that suicide is sometimes considered contagious. I think this is true, to some degree. Why is this? Who knows. Same thing can be said about divorce…</p>
<p>Researching the mental health counseling at the schools my dd just got accepted to will be my next project. Thanks for the thread.</p>
<p>“Someone mentioned that suicide is sometimes considered contagious. I think this is true, to some degree. Why is this? Who knows.”
They are still doing a lot of studies to find out more about this. I’m not an expert. Is it comparable to a virus that has more impact on a person with a low immune system?</p>
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If you are standing on a diving board, and Suzy on the next board over braves it and jumps off, you feel a little more confident in seeing that she succeeded. It helps you get your courage up.</p>
<p>Or, maybe just the power of suggestion? Sad.</p>
<p>Mallen1-I’m sorry for your loss. That must be the hardest thing in the world to deal with.
S has had 2 fellow students that he knew at his school commit suicide within 9 months of each other. Both used a gun-one in his dorm room and the other on a hill overlooking town. Neither one gave warning signs and both seemed to be coping very well with life. It is so sad that they felt there were no other options.</p>
<p>This is a most serious topic, and I wish that everything possible could be done to prevent such tragedies. The young man at Caltech who jumped after rejection from his g/f was an outstanding student, pres of his House, and universally respected and liked. The MIT student was son of a faculty member. There are several young men who have died or been incarcerated that acted impulsively. Friends did not suspect the depth of their feelings. My heart, and that of my son who knew such wonderful people, just bleeds. The Cornell boy who jumped was local and deeply mourned. </p>
<p>I Know Caltech and MIT do their best to provide counseling services and utilize local therapists with extensive experience. The key is to prevent the impulsive actions. I wish every student could recognize warning signs and know procedures. The pain after such a loss to parents and friends is just unfathonable. I only wish I knew how to prevent such awful tragedies.</p>
<p>Mallen, I am not making the assumption that your son was the Caltech student. The circumstances are similar, and the classmates that knew that young man were shocked and very sad.</p>
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<p>I agree that this is a very serious topic. But, I’m not sure there are always warning signs. I believe that we have to focus on the recent “It Gets Better” message. Adolescents/young adults are impulsive, and are not accustomed to looking at the “big picture.” We need to do a better job at expressing that failure/rejection/disappointment is a part of normal growth. And, that life truly does get better.</p>
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<p>I would be very concerned if I raised such an ethically weak child that they would concel the truth at the threat of being expelled.</p>
<p>Mallen, I am so sorry.</p>
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<p>This is just flat out wrong. It is not uncommon for mental illness to manifest itself in late teens/early twenties. It is also not uncommon for mental illness to progress very quickly. </p>
<p>I’ll admit there are a few colleges that I was glad my son was not interested in due to their reputation of student suicides being more common. But my larger concern, and something I looked into at each college he wanted to apply to, was the availability of mental health services.</p>
<p>Mallen, that is just heartbreaking. I am so sorry. Thank you for posting and sharing your story. You may have helped a lot of people tonight.</p>
<p>It never occurred to me to find out about the suicide rates at the schools to which my son has been accepted. Not the kind of thing I’d find on their websites; I’m not sure how to go about it other than googling the name of the school and “suicide.”</p>