A word on suicide Problem needs more attention from all While statistics do show that student suicides are most likely to occur around midterms and finals, this serious and overlooked issue is not seasonal. At a large, often impersonal University, it is not hard for people to slip away from their classes and friends and into depression. The third leading cause among young people aged 15-24, suicide killed more teenagers and young adults in 1996 than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.
Experts say the propagation of certain myths surrounding suicide only helps add to the problem.
One of the most serious misconceptions is that people who talk about suicide will not do it. Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Do not ignore suicide threats. Another common untruth is that once a person makes up his mind to kill himself, nothing can stop him. Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die.