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University Daily Kansan, December 1, 1982
Tests, holidays cause increase
Suicide rate high for students
By KIESA ASCUE and BILL WASH Staff Reporters
Distraught after an argument with his girlfriend, a former KU student shot himself through the head with a 12-gauge shotgun last month.
Suicide is one of the most common causes of death among college students, second only to automobile crimes. Charles Chase, professor of psychology, said recently
The suicide rate usually increases at this time of year, as the holidays and final exams draw near, said Sydney Rath, psychiatrist at Watkins Hospital.
Neuringer said the students who attempted suicide were usually better than their peers academically. Until the semester of the attempt, their grades are usually above average. The semester of the attempt, their grades drop to an average level or lower, Neuringer said.
IN THE LAST 10 years, the suicide rate for people between the ages of 20 and 24 has almost doubled, said Kate Anderson. National Center for Health Statistics.
"It has been increasing year by year," Prager said. "Suicide is primarily a phenomenon of white males. Generally speaking, males use guns more than females. Females use poison."
Tom Bates, psychologist at the Bert Nash Mental Health Center, said men traditionally chose more violent forms of attempting suicide than women do. Consequently, one of every 12 women who attempt suicide dies, but one of every three men who attempt suicide dies.
Firearms are the most common means of suicide, Prager said. In 1978, of 27,294 suicides, 15,387 were accomplished with firearms. And 12,830 of those who used the firearms were white males, she said.
Hanging was the second most used method of death nationally, followed closely by an overdose of poison or carbon monoxide poisoning. Praig said.
HOWEVER, at the University of Kansas, the suicide rate has remained fairly constant during the past 10 years. Schroeder said Most students who attempt an overdose or their and attempts are usually cries for help, he said.
The mental health clinic at Watkins Hospital receives 20 to 25 calls yearly from students who threaten suicide, but only one or two of those calls generally come from students who are serious. Schroeder said.
However, Headquarters, a local crisis intervention agency, receives between 15 and 20 suicide calls each month, and the agency's volunteers take every phone call seriously, said Christa Epstein, director of Headquarters.
"IVE HAD contacts where there was nothing I could do except listen, so I try to keep talking with the person in hopes that he'll start looking at things in a way that's at least a little bit hopeful." The professor said she can call have felt depressed or hurt for a long time. They see suicide as the only way out of their problems.
"We try to make them see other ways to help ease that pain. They've given up on anything else and really feel isolated, depressed and lonely."
At Headquarters, the volunteers
examine the individuality of each
suicide three.
"It's important to realize that it could be anybody, and a lot of times it's really surprising to people when it's their friend or relative," Epstein said.
MANY PEOPLE have acquaintances, but few friends with whom they can discuss their innermost fears and sorrows, Epstein said.
Bates said people who seriously intended to kill themselves often talked about wanting to die. They may change their sleeping or eating habits and start giving things away. They often become accident-prone and start taking unnecessary risks, or increase consumption of drugs, including alcohol, he said.
If someone threatens suicide, the best thing a person can do is to express concern about the person's life and discuss the consequences of the act, Bates said. Although it is an automatic response for most people to start offering solutions, Bates said that would be a mistake.
"Just listen," Bates said. "Reasure them that things will get better."
PROFESSION WHY TO kill themselves once you have suicide because they get into a habit of entertaining the idea of suicide as a way to solve problems. Bates said.
Although anyone might commit suicide, depressed, dramatic people who believe that they are failures or disappointments to others are likely to try to end their own lives. Bates said. "There are many problems that tend to commit suicide more often than people who try to work things out, he said.
Since 1968, suicide has not been illegal in Kansas. However, aiding someone in the attempt by providing the means to his end is illegal.
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Endowment allocation allows Wilcox transfer
By JEANNE FOY Staff Reporter
After a delay of more than two months, funds have been allocated to complete the move of the Wilcox Collection from a tin shed on West Campus to a dry warehouse on 19th Street and Bullleen Avenue.
Al Johnson, assistant to the vice chancellor of academic affairs, said the Endowment Association had decided to give $2,500 to the Wilcox Collection to pay for moving costs and other expenses involved in establishing the Wilcox Museum in Libinocott Hall.
"We learned about a week ago that the Endowment Association had been very, very kind to us." Johnson said Monday.
THE WILCOX Collection of Greek and Roman plaster casts of classical statues and antiquities had been in the tin shed, which rain and animals managed to penetrate, since 1965 when old Frader Hall was torn down. The collection had been on display in old Frader since 1888.
after facilities operations decided it could not complete the move for free.
The move out of the shed, which began in September, was delayed because the classics department had no money to pay for the move
"Everything hinged on the move. We could have had the plan for the exhibit now," she said.
Robert Porter, associate director of physical plant maintenance for facilities operations, said facilities operations, after doing the initial moving for free, decided to charge its standard moving fee of $7.30 an hour once the time and effort needed for the move became clear.
The heavier pieces remain in the shed, she said, and some of the crates weigh between 600 and 700 pounds. In addition, the bottom of the crates
BANKS SAID the classics department had $5,000 donated by the museum's former curator, Mary Grant, but Grant specified that the money be used only for installation costs.
Work on the collection will continue during the spring semester and on through the summer, she said.
Banks had said that she hoped to have the museum ready by the end of the school year, but now she says it will be ready until next fall semester.
On campus
CATHOLIC CENTER WORSHIP will be at 12:30 p.m. in Danforth Chapel.
TODAY
THE NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT Organization luncheon meeting will be at 1 p.m. in Corkroom One of the Kansas Union.
THE DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS CLUB will have a games meeting at 7 p.m. in the Trail Room of the Kansas Union.
THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Student Organization will meet at 7:30
p.m. to plan next semester's activities.
TOMORROW.
THE GERMAN CLUB will have Stammstisch, reserved table for lunch, at 11:45 a.m. in the Cottonwood Room of the Kansas Union.
C. A.R.P. will sponsor a "New Thoughts Club" meeting at 1:20 p.m. in the Trail Room of the Kansas Union. C.A.R.P. will sponsor a speech, "Operative Theology and the Decline of Christianity," to the Oread Room of the Kansas Union.
A COMPUTER SCIENCE COLLOQUIUM, "Fixed Points and Infinite Words," will be at 4 p.m. in 300 Strong Hall.
KU SWOUD AND SHIELD will meet at the Oread Room of the Kuwait Union
THE PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY CLUB will meet at 7 p.m. in Watkins Hospital cafeteria.
ECKANKAR will have a discussion on "Health and Well Being" at 7:30 p.m. in the Governor's Room of the Kansas Union.
What's Happening Dec. 4th
- Doreta's Craft Show
- Visits with Santa
- Santa's Elf taking pics.
Come to Southern Hills Center for Dora's Craft show from 10-5 p.m. Wooden toys, dolls, quilts, painting! Santa will be here to visit with your children and Santa's elf will be available to take care of the contents of Santa and your children. All of this and more Dec. 4th.
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