2008 Woodie Awards
Stress From Class Could Cause Suicidal Thoughts
Nate Taylor
Issue date: 9/7/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
For many college students, stress is a normal part of college life. Still, many universities are concerned with the fact that stress leads to depression and suicide among their students.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students, behind drinking and driving. Although universities have counseling and psychological services programs, about 1,100 students die from suicide each year. According to researchers at the University of Arizona, 1.5 percent of all students report at least one suicide attempt, and 90 percent of all people who die from suicide have a diagnosable mental illness.
At CMSU the Counseling and Psychological Services deals with any issues of student suicide. Although the services are always open to any student problems, they know that there are other ways to help students.
One of the factors that lead to suicide among college students is stress. In a very competitive society, most doctors say stress to be the best can sometimes overwhelm students. Some students can have their first experience of setbacks in college. Polychronis wants students to know that suicide is not the solution to the stress in their life.
"Everybody has stress, so students need to find ways to cope with their problems and find help," said Paul Polychronis, assistant director of university housing services for the counseling and psychological services.
Counseling and Psychological Services provides help for students by talking to and interviewing them to see how their problems can be helped. Other ways they help is by training the University Housing staff to be prepared as first responders to a potential suicide situation. Also, the University Student Affairs Office can refer students to professional help.
Even when help does not work and students attempt suicide, the University Public Safety Department has been there to help many students get through their problems. The department is usually the first to respond to many suicide attempts. They are able to take students into custody and help them find professional mental health care.
"There have been a lot of times where we have students in difficult situations get help and help them graduate from Central," said Kim Drake who has worked for Public Safety 22 years.
"Here at Central we have a good community as the professors and students here help other students get access to help. We need to have a caring environment to help all of our students in their problems," Polychronis said.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students, behind drinking and driving. Although universities have counseling and psychological services programs, about 1,100 students die from suicide each year. According to researchers at the University of Arizona, 1.5 percent of all students report at least one suicide attempt, and 90 percent of all people who die from suicide have a diagnosable mental illness.
At CMSU the Counseling and Psychological Services deals with any issues of student suicide. Although the services are always open to any student problems, they know that there are other ways to help students.
One of the factors that lead to suicide among college students is stress. In a very competitive society, most doctors say stress to be the best can sometimes overwhelm students. Some students can have their first experience of setbacks in college. Polychronis wants students to know that suicide is not the solution to the stress in their life.
"Everybody has stress, so students need to find ways to cope with their problems and find help," said Paul Polychronis, assistant director of university housing services for the counseling and psychological services.
Counseling and Psychological Services provides help for students by talking to and interviewing them to see how their problems can be helped. Other ways they help is by training the University Housing staff to be prepared as first responders to a potential suicide situation. Also, the University Student Affairs Office can refer students to professional help.
Even when help does not work and students attempt suicide, the University Public Safety Department has been there to help many students get through their problems. The department is usually the first to respond to many suicide attempts. They are able to take students into custody and help them find professional mental health care.
"There have been a lot of times where we have students in difficult situations get help and help them graduate from Central," said Kim Drake who has worked for Public Safety 22 years.
"Here at Central we have a good community as the professors and students here help other students get access to help. We need to have a caring environment to help all of our students in their problems," Polychronis said.
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