University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, January 27, 1976
13
Suicide is a study in pain, unanswered questions
By SARA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
Though there are several theories about what makes people commit suicide, no one knows exactly what drives them to kill themselves.
Bob Matthews, minister for the Trinity Episcopal Church, has said that there were two reasons why someone might commit suicide.
He said that the person probably wanted to stop his pain and want to communicate it to someone to help him.
"Usually a suicide attempt is the result of a long build-up of problems," he said. "Some persons think that dying is more pleasant than living."
The suicide rate at the University of Kansas is lower than at most other universities.
The suicide rate varies, but it typically is seven suicides for every 100,000 students, Charles Neuringer, professor of psychology.
At Harvard, Yale and Stanford University
at the university, they suffer the suicides for every
100,000 students, he said.
Sydney Schroeder, director of the Watkins Mental Health Clinic, said the students were well educated universities were that students weren't observed as closely, there weren't as many student services provided and there was more emphasis on strictly scholarly research.
From July 1974 to November 1975 there were seven suicides in Douglas County.
TONIGHT AT THE MOVIES
There were 25,000 suicides in the United States last year, Neeringer said.
Neuringer said that suicides were committed for a wide range of reasons, from the use of drugs to self-harm.
"For instance, if your father said you couldn't have the car for the evening, most people wouldn't think of committing suicide," he said. "Some persons might, however, 'People perceive life differently and what might bother some doesn't both others.'"
Hillcrest Robert Redford
James Supica, director of Headquarters, said family, health and personal problems were possible reasons that some people chose suicide.
He said some persons could think of life only in extreme terms.
"Some people feel that nobody understands them," he said. "They are disillusioned, frustrated and they think suicide is the only thing left for them to do."
"3 Days of the Condor"
7:30:9.45 <u>R</u>
"They have an inability to consider alternatives." he said.
Janette Snider, director of the Bert Nash Mental Health Clinic, said that a lack of self-esteem or self-confidence, a low self-worth, could be possible reasons for suicide.
Nearinger said some persons weren't flexible and never able to compromise with their clients.
"Some students may consider themselves
faulty if they aren't getting an A in a
class."
Laurence Price, Douglas County coroner, said that, for a death to be recorded as a suicide, there usually had to be a history of suicides. He writes that he written statements of suicide intentions.
Nearlinger said some persons who committed suicide viewed themselves as inept
He said some deaths were difficult to
Nearinger said three times as many males as females completed suicide...
classify as suicide. In cases where death is caused by prove that it was suicide, to prove that it was suicide.
"However, three times as many females as males make suicide attempts," he said. "The boys had only known of 12 students in the last 25 years who had committed suicide."
She said that if a person was thought to be dangerous to himself or others, she would not allow it.
Yvonne Keefer, minister for the american Baptist Campus Center, said someone who completed suicide didn't actually enter the building where they were actually asking for help, she said.
applicant,
"that can only be done if a relative's
a protective custody order." she said.
"One student who had been coming to the clinic for therapy quit coming regularly and break of all contact with his friends before treatment, threatened suicide several times before."
"Firearms are faster and they out-distance all other methods of suicide," he said. "Hanging and jumping from high rooftops are other common methods of suicide."
He said that the number of suicides by drug overdoses was increasing.
Supica said that his agency received 8,000 calls a year and only about six month were sent.
Places where students can get counseling are the Watkins Mental Health Clinic, the Bert Nash Mental Health Clinic at Fourth and Missouri, the University Counseling Center, and the Psychological Clinic in 307 Fraser and Headquarters, Inc., 1602 Massachusetts.
Neuringer said that the most common method of suicide was shooting.
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