Support can stop suicides, study finds

A lack of social support can encourage suicidal thoughts, according to a recent study of more than a thousand students at this university over a four-year span.

For the study, published online in May by the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers conducted face-to-face interviews with each of the 1,085 students annually during the research period to determine the occurrence and predictors of suicidal thoughts.

Of the group, 151 students — or 12 percent of the total — thought of committing suicide at least once, and 10 said they actually attempted or planned to commit suicide, though none successfully did so.

Researchers evaluated other information they received from those students in the annual interviews and identified social support as a "key protective factor" in preventing suicides in college students.

"I think sometimes when people think about people who have mental health disorders, they isolate them," said Amelia Arria, one of the study's authors and the director of the Center on Young Adult Health and Development at this university. "But they need social support and encircling rather than isolation."

A majority of the participants with suicidal thoughts — 60 percent — did not show signs of severe depression, according to the study.

Given the results of the study and the fact that suicide is the second leading cause of death among college-aged young adults in the United States, suicide prevention programs are important safeguards in college communities, Arria said.

"College campuses are ideal for suicide prevention because the students are a captive audience," Arria said. "So universities should take advantage of this by creating easy access to mental health services during this critical period of young adult development."

Arria noted that reality might have been even worse than the study results indicate if researchers had not referred participants to the University Health Center or other mental health resources; they intervened in any cases they felt their subjects were in danger, she said.

"But I'm happy if the protocol produced less events and helped students," Arria added.

Still, the findings are "fairly grim" according to Holly Wilcox, the study's other author.

Some students — like sophomore international business major Angelica Le — agree the findings are dour.

"That's a bigger percentage of students than I imagined," said Le of the 12 percent of students reporting suicidal thoughts. "It's disturbing."

But Christina Tobar, a sophomore kinesiology major, said she is "not surprised with the outcome."

"College can get really stressful and there are people who don't know methods of releasing that stress," Tobar said.

Tobar said she was able to "relieve stress" by joining the university women's rugby team and said the university could help others find similar outlets.

"I have made good friends and have been able to relieve stress through the sport," Tobar said. "I believe the university should require students to participate in at least one club."

While forcing students to do anything is controversial, the health center strives to bolster students' social support, said Marta Hopkinson, the center's director of mental health.

"We work closely with Resident Life and with other departments to build social networks," Hopkinson said. "We have gatekeeper training and most of the RAs take that. And the training teaches people to be more comfortable talking to people about suicide."

Hopkinson said the health center will likely advertise an online anonymous screening for depression and suicide risk on its website.

The health center offers a variety of suicide prevention services including short-term individual therapy, crisis intervention and group therapy that can be arranged by calling or visiting the center.

"Group therapy is especially helpful," Hopkinson said. "The group situation helps people work on social issues that get in the way of social connections."

The health center and its suicide prevention program are "doing all they can," Arria said. "But sometimes it takes more effort; it takes the whole community."

Students with depression or suicidal thoughts who want support can make an appointment with the health center by calling (301) 314-8184.

vafai at umdbk dot com