Presenter(s)

    Ross A Bales, Andy J Deak, Kaitlin Judith Samuels, Rachel L Singer

    Comments

    This poster reflects research conducted as part of a course project designed to give students experience in the research process.

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    Description

    According to the American Psychological Association, “Suicide is the act of killing oneself, most often as a result of depression or other mental illness.” Suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 15-24, making it a relevant health concern for college age students. Suicide is also seen on college campuses frequently due to unique risk factors such as increased stress, presence of alcohol and drugs, pressure for perfection, difficulty adjusting to a new environment, and the recent loss of a home safety net. Unfortunately, due to the difficult nature of the topic, suicide and the resulting aftermath is often overlooked as a health concern. This specific health concern is applicable to the Dayton community, because the University of Dayton has a higher average of student suicides compared to the national average on college campuses. Although, the cause of death is never stated, the University of Dayton’s administration will send out campus wide emails advising students to utilize on campus resources, such as the counseling center, campus ministry, and residence life staff. These services can be very beneficial for grieving students; unfortunately, these resources have limitations. These barriers limit the capabilities and population of students that they are able to reach and effectively help. This presentation will investigate the effectiveness of these resources, student perceptions of the resources through interviews, and give recommendations to improve existing programs for outreach and coping strategies for those who suffered a loss by suicide. The University of Dayton provides many resources for grieving students, although they could be improved and enhanced. After thoroughly reviewing the suggested resources available at the University of Dayton, we are presenting several proposals regarding community support in the aftermath of suicide.

    Publication Date

    4-5-2017

    Project Designation

    Course Project - Undergraduate

    Primary Advisor

    Rachel Bloom-Pojar

    Primary Advisor's Department

    English

    Keywords

    Stander Symposium project

    Support in the Aftermath of Suicide at the University of Dayton

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