Someone who attempts suicide does not necessarily want to die, they may just need help.
That was the message A.J. Arrese, a student and attempted suicide survivor, shared at a forum Wednesday at the University of Maryland, College Park.
After a 19-year-old freshman took his own life this month in Centreville Hall, the university held a day of suicide awareness sponsored by Suicide Awareness Education and Training.
Arrese told his story Wednesday for the first time. He was depressed, because his family moved a lot and he had trouble talking about his experience, even though his mother was a psychiatrist, because he was a guy and “men aren?t supposed to cry.”
Ultimately, he said, many people who attempt suicide don?t want to succeed, but just want help. “Your head becomes your worst enemy. You convince yourself that no one would care if you die,” Arrese said.
He spoke up at the forum because of the suicide of freshman Lance Healy on Nov. 1, saying he would have shared his story if it could have helped Healy. Another death in October has not been ruled a suicide, according to campus officials, but foul play and disease had been ruled out.
Daniel Rappaport, a senior at College Park, said it was tough to see a classmate take his own life, but the forum was helpful.
“It would be devastating to have someone walking around amongst us and no one could help them,” he said. “It would be horrible that they didn?t feel like they had a supportive environment and that there was no one around them that they could talk to.”
In reality, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, said Dr. Marta Hopkinson, the director of mental health in the University Health Center. Males are more likely to commit suicide, however, females are more likely to attempt.
“Suicide is a very serious problem in our community,” Hopkinson said. “More mental health screening programs are needed to assist with this problem.”
Risk factors for suicide include a family history of violence, suicide, mental disorders, and hospitalization, multiple or chronic personal losses, physical illness, loss of social support, alcohol/drug abuse, and suicidal gestures, according to information provided at the forum.
Some symptoms to look out for when diagnosing a suicidal individual are irritability, change in sleep, loss of interest in activities, trouble concentrating, loss of energy and excessive guilt, according to the information. These symptoms typically occur persistently for over a two-week period. Significant impairment would lead to diagnosis of depression.
The Suicide Awareness Education and Training program at College Park is the first of many conferences scheduled for this weekend across 130 cities for survivors of suicide and suicide loss.
