College Student Suicide Statistics and Prevention

The college student suicide crisis is growing significantly across the United States. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in people between the ages of 20 to 34 – the leading cause being accidents. According to Brainsway, the suicide rate for college students is reportedly 7 per 100,000 or approximately 1,100 individuals annually. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) found that a study in 2018 said that anytime within the last 12 months, 41 percent of students felt so depressed that it was difficult to function, and 62 percent felt overwhelming anxiety. They also estimated that one in five college students has a substance use disorder. Additional factors include relationship problems, a crisis in the past two weeks, physical health problems, legal troubles, loss of housing, and financial challenges. 

Hannah Ingo, a BU counselor education graduate assistant, spoke about the numbers and admitted that it is difficult to form a concrete opinion on the topic.

“Unfortunately, it is more common than we would ever like it to be,” Ingo said. “I feel the subject of suicidal ideation amongst college students is often misunderstood and brushed off due to feeling uncomfortable.”

Ingo said it’s common for people to say, “Please let me know if you need anything,” but we feel awkward asking, “Are you having thoughts of suicide?”.

“Can we blame ourselves or other individuals for feeling hesitant about this?” she asked. “Absolutely not. This topic is not discussed nearly enough; therefore, training and education behind this subject are not as prevalent as we need them to be. An unfortunate myth that a portion of society believes is that talking about suicide can encourage someone to become suicidal. However, there is plenty of research that will prove otherwise.

Student suicides, Ingo said, are a difficult, “heart-wrenching” topic to discuss, but she said she often tells people that it’s important to know that situations like homesickness, newfound independence and navigating new support systems can in some cases be a matter of life or death.

“As you can imagine, it is not uncommon for me to receive strange looks when I say this,” Ingo said, “but it is an absolute fact. The ‘pull yourself up by the bootstraps’ mentality is not the ideal problem-solving method many want it to be.” 

Ingo also shared some advice for college students going through depression that might contain suicidal thoughts.

“Some may say this advice is cliché given that I am a counselor intern, but my first piece of advice is to reach out to someone,” Ingo said. “Hurting is one of the most painful experiences. It can be hard to reach out to a friend, family member, or someone else because we don’t want to bother them or have them think something is wrong with us. Regardless of what your thoughts tell you, this is not the case. Depression with suicidal thoughts generally derives from many things out of our control.”

Some of those uncontrollable circumstances, Ingo said, are life experiences, current situations, and chemical balances that can harm the brain. Reaching out to someone, she added, serves as a way to regain control. She also offered advice to those not struggling with anxiety and depression to help those who might be.

“Small things such as smiling at someone as you walk by, saying hello to others, or asking folks how they are can be profound prevention,” Ingo said. “These actions may seem small to some, but they are significant to others.”

A common thought that can occur with depression or suicidal ideation, she added, is that we are not “worth it.” Acknowledging someone’s presence and taking the time to hear them out proves otherwise. She said other suicide prevention methods include seeking counseling services, such as those available on campus.

“On behalf of the Counseling and Wellness Center, I can confidently say that every individual in our Ram Family is valuable,” Ingo said. “Our facility is a safe and brave space for you to process your experiences and feelings. We will never turn you away.”

If you are having suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. Bluefield University’s Wellness Center is always open. If you need immediate help, call the number 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

You are not alone.