WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Reach out, Speak up: College Suicide
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La Crosse, WI (WXOW)-- More than half of American college students have considered suicide at some points in their lives. Even with two universities and a technical college all within blocks of each other, the subject is still rarely talked about in La Crosse.
A local college student hopes her story of survival will get the discussion started.
Larsen says, "Going off to college is a new found freedom. Suddenly you're in control of your whole life."But Dani's new found freedom fizzled fast. A few months into her freshman year she felt so frazzled she couldn't sleep, eat, or study.Dani struggled most of her life with anxiety, bulimia and obsessive compulsive disorder. Her conditions were never discussed or diagnosed until she went to college. She's not alone. One in four college students consider themselves stressed out.
Francie Biesanz councils stressed out students on a daily basis at the UW-La Crosse. This is where friends, family and faculty members must step in and speak out. "Don't worry about overstepping boundaries. Find a way to help. If you're unsure of how to help, ask. Sometimes faculty members walk students in, and friends can actually sit in on sessions if they choose to, to get assistance."Only a quarter of suicidal students seek help, which means 75 percent of them never come through the counseling office doors.Biesanz says, "Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. We know it will change but we will get you over that hump and it will change. We're here to help you."
Dani Larsen couldn't wait to finish high school. She was anxious to move out of her parents' house and start college.
"I just didn't handle college well. It was like a ticking time bomb and things just hit the fan."
"It was a small community on the other side of the state so we didn't have the resources. So, to actually say hey, you're depressed. You're struggling. Go see someone."
Dani attempted to kill herself two times in college before a friend intervened and convinced her to get help.
From everyday worries about grades and relationships to darker thoughts of suicide.
Nearly one in five say they've considered suicide.
"The students think college is a new environment. They can leave the past behind. Their lifestyle kept things at bay but both can get worse at college. They get to school and thoughts become worse because of eating habits, lack of sleep and support."
Counselors on campus are available all day, everyday. Most are free of charge and no appointments are necessary.
But most students who have suicidal thoughts don't know the resources to get help exist.
Dani Larsen considers herself a suicide survivor, and uses her story to inspire other college co-eds to talk about solutions."If you're in college, there are supports. They might not have big green flashing neon lights, but getting support, and connecting with the right people is the best thing."
"It is powerful when someone can speak from experience. And I've always believed these things happen for a bigger purpose.
If you're having thoughts of suicide or any type of self-harm, help is just a phone call away. Contact the national suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-talk to speak with a trained professional and get connected to a mental health provider in your area. It's available 24 hours a day nationwide.
You can also dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
The website www.halfofus.com is specifically geared towards college students with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
