Suicidal Behavior among College Students

Introduction

Because suicide is the second biggest cause of death of college students, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is targeting them with a documentary and screening program to help identify those students at risk .

Although suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, there are currently limited resources within the college community to help students deal with this pressing issue. In an effort to combat the alarming suicide rate among college students, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has launched the College Screening Project - a pilot program aimed at identifying college students at risk for suicide and encouraging them to get the help they need.

Discussion

Many teenagers consider suicide as a solution of their problems. Suicide among young people nationwide has increased dramatically in recent years. Thousands of College Students each year commit suicide. It is the third leading cause of death among young people aged 15-24 (Kennard). At most of the time, College Students are not sure about what identities they actually are. Not a lot of kids can judge values accurately and make out for themselves what is important and what is not in life. They have a lot of extra stress that they are not used to handling.

College Students who are seriously depressed often think about, speak about, or try to get attention from suicide, which should be taken seriously. They experience strong feelings of stress while growing up, including depression concerning friendships and peer pressure, family problems, schooling and even just everyday teenage life. They are forced to juggle pressures from parents and peers. The majority of suicide attempts and suicide deaths happen among College Students with depression; between 15% and 30% of teens with serious depression think about suicide and make a suicide attempt (Teens Health).

Psychosocial and environmental factors are associated with suicidal behavior. Poor coping and problem-solving skills are the psychosocial factors that lower College Students? self-esteem or confidence. College Students who have prior self-destructive behavior or a family history of suicide are more likely to commit suicide (Hockenbury, 534). There is also another example that girls become moody and anxious just before and during menstruation. The girls may feel like there must be something wrong with them, which also can lower the self-esteem. These factors could lead teens to depression, and later suicidal behaviors.

If people want to know whether or not someone is thinking about committing suicide, there are many warning signs that they can actually look for. Some signs are easily recognized: ?cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual activity linked to substance abuse, physical fighting, not using a seatbelt, and gun carrying,? were all the signs of attempting to commit suicide that parents should be aware of (Warning Signs of Teen Suicide). Additionally, parents should pay attention to the changes of teens in eating and sleeping habits, as well as the verbal hints, like saying that they won?t be problems much longer. Also teens thinking of committing suicide participate in rebellious ...