Features Reporter
College is an emotional rollercoaster. The sense of freedom gained by being away from home coupled with the pressure to meet social and academic requirements can be a daunting task.
Every student has his or her own way of dealing with the troubles that arise throughout their college career. Unfortunately, some will go down the path of self-abuse.
September has been deemed as National Suicide Prevention month with the goal of increasing awareness about the tragedy of suicide and offering help to all those who may be feeling the effects of depression.
“Some people will stand up to the adversity put in their way. Others will get knocked on their butt and stay down, which makes them lose hope in themselves.”
Carl Willoughby, BCS counselor
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 1,100 high school and college students committed suicide in 2012, and it has become the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15-24. In the Grand Valley alone, 47 people took their own lives last year, some of whom were students and faculty members at Colorado Mesa. CMU director of Diversity, Advocacy and Health Dan Sandoval explained that like many college campuses around the country, CMU deals with suicide as well.
“It’s pretty common,” Sandoval said. “It’s difficult to determine an exact number of people who are feeling depressed on campus because we receive calls for help in many other ways besides someone coming in to speak with us directly, but it is common.”
Sandoval has been one of the most active members at CMU in identifying students with potential suicidal risk factors in hopes of reaching them before they fall into a deeper level of depression. Changes in behavior, failing academics, lack of involvement in clubs or organizations and changes in mood are some of the most identifiable characteristics considered when determining the level of risk a student may be at. Sandoval makes these observations personally, but he also receives help from faculty and staff around the university who are trained to spot those traits.
“A lot of the information we receive on students is not through the formal process,” Sandoval said. “There are professors in many different fields who have volunteered to monitor students and send us an email if they think one of their students is at risk.”
Along with the office of Diversity, Advocacy, and Health, CMU also works in collaboration with Behavioral Clinical Services, or BCS, to provide students with another opportunity to speak with licensed professionals. BCS has been in contract with the university for several years and offers counseling for a wide array of emotional and mental instability. Together, the services work to make sure students they have identified as potential suicidal risks are taken care of. Both counseling centers go through a screening protocol with their patients to figure out the severity of depression and the seriousness of the suicidal characteristics. BCS counselor Carl Willoughby, L.P.C., explained that even with the testing, it is still difficult to classify someone with depression.
“Suicide and depression are very complex mental disorders,” Willoughby said. “No two people are going to show the same signs when feeling depressed.”
He also explained that one of the most common forms of depression on college campuses is dysthymic disorder, in which the person affected seeks out less joy in activities that used to be important to them. It can also be described as someone who is living on ‘auto-pilot.’ Willoughby stated that people with this disorder tend to have a difficult time dealing with adversity, which leads them to believe that they have no power.
“I call it the resiliency factor,” he said. “Some people will stand up to the adversity put in their way. Others will get knocked on their butt and stay down, which makes them lose hope in themselves.”
Fortunately, the area we live in has many positive aspects that have the capability to deter thoughts of suicide. Genevieve Morris, another licensed professional counselor for BCS, explained that the plethora of possibilities to get active and explore the scenery in the Grand Valley is a great resource for people looking for an escape.
“I believe that our environment has some aspects that combat depression,” Morris said. “I think the amount of sunshine we get combined with the activities that there are around here tend to have a positive impact on most people.”
There may only be one month dedicated to suicide prevention awareness, but its lessons should be applied year-round. While counseling is without a doubt a helpful tool, it does not always have to be the first step. According to Morris, if we show people whom we believe are feeling depressed that they are important in our lives, it can make all the difference.
“Let them know that you’re there and that you care,” she said. “Give them good quality time and make sure that they know that you are supporting them.”
mfreter@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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