Syracuse University: Understanding Student Suicide Statistics and Prevention Strategies

Syracuse University, like many higher education institutions, is deeply concerned about the mental health and well-being of its students. Addressing mental health challenges and suicide risks requires a comprehensive and proactive strategy. This article examines the available data regarding student mental health, suicide ideation, and attempts, suicide prevention efforts, and resources available at Syracuse University and beyond.

The Landscape of Mental Health

Mental health is a complex issue influenced by various factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, trauma, and abuse, as noted by HealtheCNY. One in five adults in the United States lives with a mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In Onondaga County, where Syracuse University is located, residents reported an average of 3.8 poor mental health days per month in 2018, slightly below the central New York average of 3.9.

In 2017, a Syracuse University and Syracuse community collaborative study explored neighborhood trauma due to violence. Data indicates that ZIP code 13202, near downtown Syracuse, experienced the highest number of adult hospitalizations and emergency room visits related to mental health, averaging 280.1 and 366.8 per 10,000 population, respectively. This ZIP code also had the highest rate of hospitalizations due to suicide and intentional self-inflicted injury in central New York, with an average of 224 hospitalizations. This is approximately double Onondaga County's average of 15.2 hospitalizations and 44.6 emergency room visits.

Mental Health on College Campuses: Dispelling Myths

News reports sometimes create a perception of a "suicide epidemic" on college campuses, but data suggests a more nuanced reality. While the suicide rate for the general population has risen, evidence does not indicate the same trend among college students. In fact, statistically, attending college can be a protective factor. However, universities need increased funding and treatment capacity at counseling centers to support students struggling with suicidal thoughts.

The Numbers and Their Interpretation

Despite the protective nature of college, a significant percentage of students experience mental health challenges. In December 2019, Syracuse University's health and wellness center reported that 10% of their students had suicidal thoughts. This means that approximately 200 students in a school of 2,000 would consider ending their lives in an academic year.

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According to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH), serious suicidal ideation increased by 12.7% between 2010 and 2019. Accidental death, often related to alcohol, is the leading cause of death among college students, followed by suicide and cancer. While suicide is a leading cause of death, it is essential to consider that college students are generally a medically healthy age group, making death statistically rare.

College as a Protective Factor

Experts point to the 1997 Big Ten Student Suicide Study, which found that students had a suicide rate of 7.5 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 15 per 100,000. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center attributes this lower rate to factors such as a desire to finish school, future aspirations, social connections, supportive relationships with teachers and mentors, and access to student support services.

Challenges in Data Collection

It's important to acknowledge the limitations in collecting accurate data on student suicide. Universities may not be aware of the cause of death if a student dies away from campus. Additionally, the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) data from 2017 shows a spike in suicide-related ER visits for people aged 18 to 24, the typical age of college students.

Furthermore, mental health issues may contribute to accidental deaths, particularly those related to alcohol. Substance abuse might be a way for students to cope with mental health problems, and these deaths may not always be recorded as suicides.

Risk Factors and Stressors in College Life

While college can be protective, certain aspects of college life can negatively impact mental health. These include financial problems, anxiety about student loans, demanding workloads, and macro-level stressors like climate change, political division, and global events like the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Data from the CCMH indicates that in the 2018-2019 school year, 40% of students seeking counseling services reported thoughts of ending their life in the two weeks before their visit. However, counselors reported that suicidality was a real concern in only 10% of those students. This discrepancy may be due to increased awareness and willingness to report suicidal thoughts, reflecting the success of suicide prevention efforts.

National Trends in Youth Mental Health

Recent data from the CDC's 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding adolescent mental health and suicide risk. The survey found that:

39.7% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
28.5% experienced poor mental health.
20.4% seriously considered attempting suicide.
9.5% had attempted suicide.

These indicators varied by sex, sexual identity, grade, and race and ethnicity. Female students reported higher rates of sadness, hopelessness, poor mental health, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts than male students. LGBQ+ students also experienced higher rates of mental health challenges compared to their heterosexual peers.

Protective Factors

The CDC study identified several protective factors associated with lower prevalence of mental health and suicide risk indicators:

Being physically active for at least 60 minutes/day for at least 5 days a week.
Getting at least 8 hours of sleep.
Having a household adult who always tried to meet their basic needs.
High parental monitoring.
High levels of school connectedness.
Playing on at least one sports team.

These findings underscore the importance of promoting healthy behaviors, supportive relationships, and a sense of belonging to improve mental health outcomes.

Suicide Prevention Efforts and Resources

Recognizing the importance of addressing mental health, Syracuse University and other institutions have implemented various suicide prevention programs and resources.

Campus Connect

Syracuse University has implemented and evaluated Campus Connect for the past 10 years. Designed specifically for a college/university community, Campus Connect is an experiential training focused on enhancing gatekeepers’ knowledge, awareness and skills concerning college student suicide. Beyond increasing gatekeepers’ knowledge about students in a suicidal crisis, emphasis is placed on developing empathic listening skills, communication skills, and the ability to compassionately and directly ask students about their suicidal thoughts. In addition to enhanced ability in responding to students in a suicidal crisis, the skills learned in Campus Connect training will enable gatekeepers to respond caringly and effectively to students experiencing a wide range of emotional crises. Campus Connect is a three-hour, interactive training program designed for use with a wide variety of campus personnel (e.g., faculty, residence life staff, academic advisors, health and wellness staff etc.). A comprehensive six-hour Train-the-Trainer Session is available to colleges and universities interested in implementing Campus Connect on their own campuses. As a result of participating in a Train-the-Trainer session, your campus will be able to implement a self-sustained gatekeeper training program-an essential component of an effective campus suicide prevention program.

Lab THRIVE

Lab THRIVE combines quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods to analyze student mental health trends and to develop strategies to improve campus support systems. The lab’s pilot study used two years’ worth of data to examine the association between students’ engagement in wellness activities-such as physical exercise, the Deborah A. Barnes Pet Therapy Program and the Crowley Family MindSpa-and their mental health outcomes. Lab THRIVE’s research pipeline also complements student support programming at Syracuse. The lab works closely with the Barnes Center at The Arch, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, TRIO Student Support Services (part of the School of Education’s Center for Academic Achievement and Student Development) and the Center for International Services to recruit participants for ongoing focus groups.

The Barnes Center at The Arch

The Barnes Center at The Arch, alongside campus partners, works to strengthen a campus community of support through trainings, consultations and more. The center provides various mental health services, including:

Counseling: Individual and group counseling sessions are available to address a range of mental health concerns.
Crowley Family MindSpa: A space for mindfulness and relaxation techniques.
Psychiatry: Psychiatric services are available for students who require medication management.
Substance Use Support: Resources and support for students struggling with substance use.
Suicide Prevention: Training and resources to help students identify and support those at risk.

Other Initiatives

Syracuse University has been increasingly concerned with the serious and diverse mental and behavioral health problems among its students. Our gatekeeper training workshop is a three-hour experientially based crisis intervention and suicide prevention training program. In Year 1 of our grant, we have trained and assessed all of our Residence Life staff (250), and our Health Services staff (50). Outcome studies to date are evidencing highly significant results. Satisfaction surveys are quite positive. Our Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Seminar series has also met with success. Thus far, we have offered three eight-week seminars to over 80 students.

Addressing the Needs of Diverse Student Populations

It's crucial to recognize that health-seeking behaviors can vary across demographic factors. First-generation students, students of color, and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may face unique challenges in accessing mental health services. They may experience anxiety about the college experience and be less likely to seek treatment due to feeling judged on campus.

The Role of Media

Media coverage of suicide can inadvertently contribute to the problem by inspiring copycat behavior and perpetuating false narratives. Experts emphasize the importance of following media guidelines for reporting on suicide, avoiding alarmist language, and focusing on prevention and hope.

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