In 1994 SIUC police reported three

suicides, and in 1995 only one suicide, involving SIUC students or personnel. These numbers do not appear large when compared to a student population that averages 24,000, but any suicide represents a tragedy.

The Daily Egyptian thinks it is everyone’s responsibility to get out information and use it for those who are, or know someone who may be, suicidal, so they can take advantage of counselling services at SIU and in the region.

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And the college student is in need of this information. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young adults 15 to 24 years old.

A suicide, Jean Cunningham, SIUC Counseling Center’s chief psychologist said, comes about from a person feeling overwhelmed, helpless and seeing no other resolution. She said the person believes others do not care and thinks death is that person’s only avenue.

Consider the four people that the University has lost. Now we will never see the accomplishments they may have performed in their lives. This can be said about any death, but with a suicide, where the people are robbing us of their own lives, it seems even more tragic.

Cunningham said reasons given for suicide by college students include major changes in relationships or feelings of worthlessness and failure in classes.

Add alcohol or drugs to these stresses and the risk of a student attempting suicide increases. In 1994, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that two-thirds of college suicide attempts involved alcohol usage. The report stated that drugs or alcohol added to depression makes people more dangerous to themselves than normal.

Some other facts about suicide:Women attempt suicide more than men, but men’s attempts are more lethal; women are more likely to seek help than men; and of the people who attempt suicide, 75 percent have shown warning signs.

Some things a person can look for – both verbal and non-verbal:The giving away of possessions; lack of interest in personal appearance, social activities and friends; and phrases similar to, Life isn’t worthwhile, or People are better off without me.

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A myth about suicide is that people should not bring the subject up to a person they suspect is suicidal, thinking they are putting the idea into the person’s head.

Cunningham said talking to the person shows that there are people who care, the person is not alone and that help is available. She said that if you are this concerned about a friend, the friend has probably already thought about suicide.

Another myth is that everyone who commits or attempts suicide is mentally ill. A suicidal person can be anyone, successful or not. Kurt Cobain, the late lead-singer of Nirvana, demonstrates this fact. He was living a dream to many people – the lead-singer in a popular band with a wife and child – and he chose suicide.

So what options are open to a person or the friend of someone who is thinking about suicide?

The DE urges you to talk to someone and get help for yourself or your friend. And help is available.

The SIU Counseling Center (453-5371) is available to all students, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m., for appointments. And a counselor is always on call for emergencies. The center is also open to non-students who have concerns about a student.

The Network (549-3351), a service of Southern Illinois Regional Social Services, is open 24 hours, seven days a week for counseling and crisis intervention.