Suicide is the act of intentionally killing yourself. Today, it is the second leading death cause among college students. According to statistics, 10% of college students have had suicidal thoughts or even have been making plans to take away their own lives. Most students, who manifest such thoughts and intentions, suffer from mental illnesses (most often – depression), experience frustrations, worries, fears, and doubts. Even though many students can experience these symptoms without thoughts of death, it’s necessary to prevent or timely notice the frightening moment, when they decide to end their lives.
Even though suicide often seems to be a sudden act, it’s possible to notice the warning signals beforehand and timely help the person. These symptoms aren’t always clear, but they may include:
Most college students who commit suicide suffer from a diagnosable and treatable mental disorder, such as severe depression, anxiety, or negative thoughts after a loss of a loved one.
Suicidal students often talk to their peers and express their thoughts. Therefore, you need to be attentive to those you communicate with. See if they manifest such signs as:
Seeing any of these signs, be very careful. Patiently talk with this person and encourage him to get professional help. In case you suspect that your friend, peer, or roommate is suicidal but doesn’t want to communicate, consult your campus healthcare providers right away. In emergency cases, call 911 or urgent care facilities. By expressing your concern in time, you might save this person’s life.
Be attentive not only to those around you but also to yourself. See if you manifest any of the following behaviors:
If you have any of these signs, seek professional help. Share your thoughts with your friend or family member and ask them to accompany you to the specialist.
If you want to know how to deal with suicidal thoughts in yourself or your friend, you can ask help from your campus health center or any of these organizations:
Suicide is a serious issue. Nevertheless, you can prevent this tragedy if you don’t nurture your negative thoughts and rather seek ways to deal with them. Remember that your life is the most precious thing you have. Value it.
Comments
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *