Suicide was the third-leading cause of death among people 15 to 24 years of age in 1997, and there are about eight to 25 attempted suicides for each completed act. The issue strikes close to home since Yvette Moorehead, George Washington University volleyball coach, was found dead in her Arlinton, Va., home Aug. 9. Police are investigating the cause of death as suicide.
Suicide is a tragic, complex behavior usually caused by a combination of factors.
But suicide is a potentially preventable problem. If you hear of a friend or another student with suicidal ideation, it's not time to panic or despair, but to get assistance. DePalma attributes the low number of completed on-campus suicide attempts to the network of people on campus who keep their ears open listening for troubled students. Counseling center staff members and community facilitators living in residence halls are trained to help students who are depressed or contemplating suicide. Many people tell someone that they are feeling that depressed.