Cornell "Suicide School" NPR Story

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

There's no question depression is biological, and it's also hereditary.  Stress is a trigger for major episodes.
The problem is that those episodes can happen before you're prepared to do something about it.  Once you're in it, it's damned hard to pull out of it, and it doesn't turn around quickly.  I know.

My opinion is that the key is identifying someone who is having a problem and getting them help - treating them pharmaceutically and therapeutically - because odds are, they're not going to be able to do it by themselves.    And speaking from personal experience, even that is not something quick or easy.  I've been in treatment for 16 years and I don't doubt it'll be quite a few more.  I had a friend who was being treated, who thought she was doing OK, and then just as suddenly she turned for the worse and killed herself.

So if you know anyone who you think is at risk, don't hesitate.  Talk to them.  Make sure they're OK.  And if they're not, encourage them to seek help.

[Robb]

So if you know anyone who you think is at risk, don't hesitate.  Talk to them.  Make sure they're OK.  And if they're not, encourage them to seek help.

Amen.  Even then, it is a tough battle, but people with this disease definitely can't fight alone.  I had a good friend in high school who had everything in the world going for him (star of the soccer team, Eagle Scout, went on to graduate with honors in CS from Va Tech, etc), but eventually just couldn't beat it even though he was getting the best care in the world.  Absolutely tragic.

[billhoward]

Suicide rate is about 15 per 100,000 for college students. Cornell is within that norm. As others note, gorge suicides are more public and attempts are more successful.

The No. 1 cause of death for people < 25 is auto accidents. That's the biggest tragedy.

[redfanbytradition]

For what it's worth, this is the e-mail that we as students recieved last night regarding the situation:

VP Communications to me

show details 9:16 PM (19 hours ago)

We have been inspired by the many ways in which members of our community - students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni - have reached out to one another with compassion and concern. We truly are a caring community.
 
In this spirit, we will continue to seek ways to make the campus safer. Over the next week, Cornell will begin installing temporary fences on the sides of the campus bridges. This will allow us more time to consider long-term solutions appropriate to our circumstances.
 
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Steering Committee, among others, advocates bridge barriers as a most effective means of suicide prevention. This decision was made after due consideration and consulting with officials from the City of Ithaca and Tomkins County. For more information, visit http://caringcommunity.cornell.edu/.  Please contact my office, at 607.255.9929, if you have any questions.
 
Have a pleasant break. Take care of yourself, and others. We will see everyone back on campus on the 29th.
 
Sincerely,
 
Thomas Bruce
Vice President, University Communications

[Roy 82]

There's no question depression is biological, and it's also hereditary.  Stress is a trigger for major episodes.
The problem is that those episodes can happen before you're prepared to do something about it.  Once you're in it, it's damned hard to pull out of it, and it doesn't turn around quickly.  I know.

My opinion is that the key is identifying someone who is having a problem and getting them help - treating them pharmaceutically and therapeutically - because odds are, they're not going to be able to do it by themselves.    And speaking from personal experience, even that is not something quick or easy.  I've been in treatment for 16 years and I don't doubt it'll be quite a few more.  I had a friend who was being treated, who thought she was doing OK, and then just as suddenly she turned for the worse and killed herself.

So if you know anyone who you think is at risk, don't hesitate.  Talk to them.  Make sure they're OK.  And if they're not, encourage them to seek help.

Wow. Thanks for sharing your personal story.

I assume that stress triggers must be a long-term thing. Otherwise being a die-hard hockey fan is probably not a good idea. When Cornell playoff games go into OT I am so stressed out that I want to barf. My heart rate for the recent women's championship game must have been about 200.::cheer::

[Willy '06]

I really don't like the idea of fences. Maybe it's just because it is too close to the urban legend about nets under the bridges during exam time.

[billhoward]

I really don't like the idea of fences. Maybe it's just because it is too close to the urban legend about nets under the bridges during exam time.

Would nets tempt drunken fraterity brothers to try pranks? How do they know the nets really hold?

[statenaurora]

"University Installs Fences on Campus Bridges"

http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2010/03/24/university-installs-fences-campus-bridges

[Willy '06]

I also wonder if fences could have some "unintended consequences." Yes, they may make it a little harder to jump, and they could even convince someone not to jump, but every undergrad who walks by those fences will think about suicide when they do. I haven no idea what that means, but I'd hope that the administration has taken a research based approach to taking the right action.

[sockralex]

Between the off-court media attention and the fences, this will not look good for pre-frosh week.  I remember walking over the suspension bridge when I visited as a pre-frosh and thinking how awesome the view was and loving it.  The bounce of the bridge with each step was like nothing else.  

The experience certainly wasn't the decisive factor, but I hope that all students get to see the view.

Don't ask me for an alternative - I have no clue what would work and what would just look like it will work.

[phillysportsfan]

I think this whole fence thing is just a complete over reaction, a fence might take away the impulse but if someone has enough mental issues to want to commit suicide, will a fence really stop them? I thought a big problem with how the Sun and Cornell handled the first suicide was that they gave it so much attention, broadcasting the student's name, putting his picture everywhere, etc. I am not saying they should keep quiet about it but they dont need to release a name and they dont need to put it on the front page

[ugarte]

I think this whole fence thing is just a complete over reaction, a fence might take away the impulse but if someone has enough mental issues to want to commit suicide, will a fence really stop them?

Research says yes. That suicidal impulses are very often... impulsive. There are some people who attempt suicide until they succeed but many who are deterred get the help that they need.

[Trotsky]

At least nobody made a shirt about it.

[Rosey]

I'll throw it out there that I'd rather have the beautiful views from the bridges than save two lives a year: those views enrich the lives of tens of thousands each year.  Of course, what would be even better would be to have both: figure out some other way to identify potentially suicidal people before they get to the point of wanting to jump off a bridge.

[Trotsky]

Yes, yes, we've all read Harrison Bergeron.