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Nov 23, 2009 5:43 pm US/Central
University Helps Students As Suicide Rates Climb
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Over the past two years, St. Cloud State's counseling service has seen a 30 percent increase in new clients and a 55 percent increase in individual counseling sessions. (File)
SCSU
The American College Health Association has reported that suicide rates among college students has increased over the past couple years. Recently, two students at St. Cloud State University committed suicide.
The suicides happened within a couple weeks of each other, and occurred off campus. SCSU is now taking extra steps to make sure students get the help they need.
"It's very shocking. I didn't know him either. It's just shocking that that much stress can do that to somebody. It's unfortunate," said student Callen Vernlund.
It's not something roommates Vernlund and Kelly Acquard really want to talk about. But after two of their fellow students committed suicide this fall, so this taboo topic is now getting attention.
"We live together so we can talk to each other. I like to talk out my stressors and then it just kind of goes down. That helps a lot," said Acquard.
And that's exactly what the university wants, because numbers show more and more students need help.
Over the past two years, St. Cloud State's counseling service has seen a 30 percent increase in new clients and a 55 percent increase in individual counseling sessions. But instead of being discouraged by those numbers, the university is actually encouraged because more students are willing to talk.
"The message that we have and that our president has communicated to our community is that we need to take care of each other," said Wanda Overland, vice president of student life and development at SCSU.
The university has taken several steps to try and do just that. They recently created a case management position which helps students on multiple levels from classes to family or roommate issues.
A behavior intervention team now works with teachers and staff who are looking to identify and help struggling students. And that's not all.
In the past, students would receive counseling on campus, but to see a psychiatrist they would have to go off campus. This year, thanks to a grant from the Centra Care Foundation, SCSU is having a psychiatrist come to campus three times a week.
When the psychiatrist shows up, the slots are quickly filled. The message SCSU wants to send its students is that if you need to talk there is always someone to lend an ear.
"School is really stressful. Especially if you have a job to go along with it and studying," said Acquard.
St. Cloud State counselors believe things like a change in lifestyle and workload can be difficult for some students to adjust too.
SCSU is not alone. A recent study conducted by the American College Health Association revealed that 10 percent of students have thought about suicide and about one percent had attempted it.
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