Trigger warning - School Stats on Self Harm

[Anonymous]

This may need a trigger warning as I know self harm is a sensitive subject.

I mentioned to someone that my DC was applying to several state engineering programs - Penn state, NC State, Ga Tech, Va Tech, Clemson, etc. They mentioned that one particular school on his list was known to have a depressing program and had a high incident of student s**cide - “as many as 6 already this year.”

Where can I find out statistics related to this? I know this is not normally publicized to the general public and I know the schools especially aren’t going to volunteer this info. I am curious for all schools - to find out if this is true that one school is an outlier or whether it’s an unfortunate reality and most schools have similar numbers. There is so much to consider as he narrows down his options and this is the last thing I want to bring into his research…. and it may not even matter as much in his final decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may need a trigger warning as I know self harm is a sensitive subject.

I mentioned to someone that my DC was applying to several state engineering programs - Penn state, NC State, Ga Tech, Va Tech, Clemson, etc. They mentioned that one particular school on his list was known to have a depressing program and had a high incident of student s**cide - “as many as 6 already this year.”

Where can I find out statistics related to this? I know this is not normally publicized to the general public and I know the schools especially aren’t going to volunteer this info. I am curious for all schools - to find out if this is true that one school is an outlier or whether it’s an unfortunate reality and most schools have similar numbers. There is so much to consider as he narrows down his options and this is the last thing I want to bring into his research…. and it may not even matter as much in his final decision.

I really hope this is not accurate.

[Anonymous]

I think it may be NC state:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/challenging-year-north-carolina-state-confronts-spate-student/story?id=99008743

GA Tech also has also had multiple cases.

This is all so sad.

[Anonymous]

Wow. My guess is it has less to do with the program and more to do with home life/family expectations. It’s very sad. Some kids are under unbelievable pressure from parents.

[Anonymous]

According teh National College Health Assessmen, which surveys health of college students at the population level (n = 32,800)

1% = 320 students

Fall 2024 data:
Have you thought about killing yourself in the past year?
71.5% - Never
11.6% - Once (Rarely)
8.7% - Twice (Sometimes)
3.9% - 3-4 times (Often)
4.4% - 5 or more times (Very often)

Within the last 12 months, have you attempted suicide?
97.6% - No
2.4% - Yes (n = 772 students)

Have you ever planned or attempted to kill yourself?
57.2% - Never
22.2% - Passing thought
9.2% - Planned but didn't really want to die
5.2% - Planned and really wanted to die
2.6% - Attempted but didn't really want to die
3.5% - Attempted and really wanted to die

The reality is that suicide is the second leading cause of death among college aged students. It can and does happen on every campus. The suicide rate in the 15-24 age group is 14/100,000. This means over 6000 deaths from suicide in that age group and 80% were males. That is more than 16 deaths a day (every day) in that age group.

[Anonymous]

There is sometimes suicide clusters or a contagion effect. Once there are 1 or 2 suicides at a school, it isn't uncommon to see a couple more. Then there might be none for 2 years etc.

Also not all suicides are known to the school. Not all families disclose.

[Anonymous]

Look for engineering programs that are supportive and do not have weed out classes. Look for a 90+% graduation rate (with an engineering degree) of students who started in engineering. See the other DCUM thread on this.

[Anonymous]

This is all so sad.

[Anonymous]

A family friends son … at GA tech many years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look for engineering programs that are supportive and do not have weed out classes. Look for a 90+% graduation rate (with an engineering degree) of students who started in engineering. See the other DCUM thread on this.

Good advice.

[Anonymous]

OP, why don't you just ask the person you were talking to about this to provide you with a citation? My DC attends one of these schools and we haven't heard anything at all about suicides there.

And you do know this can happen at absolutely ANY school, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. My guess is it has less to do with the program and more to do with home life/family expectations. It’s very sad. Some kids are under unbelievable pressure from parents.

Add to that many kids suffer from untreated mental illness because parents are doing a poor job. Untreated illnesses like that are pure hell.