Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Paige Graham A female college student slits her wrist over college documents.

Suicide is the dirt under the carpet many like to ignore.
It is estimated that 1,100 college students commit suicide every year, according to the Jed Foundation.

The Jed Foundation is a non-profit organization that is trying to lower the number of suicides.

While the number may not seem high, it only takes one person close to someone to attempt or succeed in killing him or herself for someone to be hugely impacted.

At some point, that someone could be you.

According to Healthwise, signs of suicide include:

Being disconnected to reality (psychotic), experiencing severe anxiety, hallucinating, being given commands, and or using alcohol or drugs (especially in large quantities).

Talking, writing, or drawing about death or speaking about items that can cause physical harm, spending long periods of time alone, giving away possessions and or being aggressive are other signs of potential suicidal feelings.

People need to remember good grades don't mean someone isn't suicidal.

One should always take someone possibly commenting about wanting to commit suicide very seriously.

If someone seems like they are considering suicide, stay with that person until the crisis has passed.

Encourage the person to seek professional help, don't argue or challenge that person and express how much that person is wanted and cared for.

There is always a reason to live.

Suicidal people often forget there are other solutions to their problems besides killing themselves.

Help can be just a click, call, or a short walk away.

There are many suicide hotlines.

1-800-273-8255, 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) are just a couple.

These numbers can offer encouraging words, and resources to help get someone through another day.

Yahoo.com has many support groups that offer hope and advice along with many positive messages.

Google "suicide help" and thousands of websites come up.
There is also a book called Waking Up Alive by Richard Heckler.
In the book he interviews people who have attempted suicide.
No one should be afraid to get help.

Just because people don't talk about depression or suicide doesn't mean for a minute that it doesn't exist.

The resources are out there to help and be used.

There are counseling services available in the Health Center located in Building 100 in Room 120.

The center offers crisis counseling and referrals for mental health services in the community.

The Counseling Center also in Building 100, next to Adddmissions and Records, offers counseling for personal issues as well as school issues.

The World Health Organization (WHO) holds a World Mental Health day every year on Oct. 10th.

Last year's theme was Buliding Awarness- Reducing Risk: Mental Illness & Suicide.

The call to action reads, " The WHO estimates that 90 percent of people committing suicide have at least one (often undiagnosed and untreated) mental illness."

Another day, another hour, another minute of life could be saved with the right treatment and help.

Look up, not down to the bright future that is waiting.

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