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accessHealthNews.net
November 2021
Volume 8 | Issue No. 51
"We know that students are bombarded with a lot of
information, they have a lot of things grappling for their
time and attention. Social media and marketing campaigns
regarding suicide prevention and need-to-know crisis numbers
can be instrumental in saving a life on campus."
T
he final installation in a series on suicide
prevention highlighted the specific risk
factors for college students across Missouri.
"Suicide Prevention in Higher Education,"
hosted by the Missouri Behavioral Health
Council (MBHC), explored the reasons Missouri
college students experience suicidal ideations
and attempts and what roles family, friends,
peers, and providers have in preventing them.
Margo Leitschuh led the presentation, detailing
the work Missouri Partners in Prevention (PIP)
has done to increase suicide prevention efforts
among Missouri campus students and faculty.
Leitschuh serves as the communications
coordinator for PIP, a grant-funded coalition
of 24 colleges and universities throughout the
state helping implement strategic plans for
suicide prevention.
SUICIDE AMONG MISSOURI COLLEGE STUDENTS
According to Leitschuh, suicide is the second
leading cause of death in Missouri for
individuals ages 18 to 24. College students in
this age range are especially at risk due to the
risk factors associated with college, such as
being away from home and a primary support
system, economic pressures related to living
alone, and substance misuse as students may
begin to experiment with drugs. Mental health
concerns especially may present at this age,
especially when coupled with substance use.
"College in and of itself can be a protective
environment as well — having a community,
having lots of resources, there is that cohesion
that's built into college spaces," said Leitschuh.
"But there is a little bit of give and take,
knowing that those risks and protective factors
don't cancel each other out — suicide is a very
complex thing. There are certain factors that
may put a student at risk."
The Missouri Assessment of College Health
Behaviors (MACHB) study is an annual online
survey utilized by PIP to determine factors
for suicidal thoughts and attempts among
students. The survey features nearly 200
questions on suicide, mental health, stress,
interpersonal violence, and more factors and ir
provided to a random sample of the campus
population.
According to the 2021 survey data presented
during the webinar, 46% of students reported
having suicidal thoughts in their lifetime, with
nearly 25% having suicidal thoughts in the past
year and 1.65% percent reporting attempts in
the last year. While PIP does not collect data
on suicide deaths by Missouri college students
annually, the national average is about 1,100
college students per year, according to
Leitschuh.
