More than 6,000 students have used the school’s counseling services this school year.
ST. LOUIS — Numbers alone will stop you in your tracks. According to the CDC, one person commits suicide every 11 minutes in the United States. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.
Saint Louis University has made access to mental health a top priority, after losing four students to suicide this school year.
“Certainly the vibe on campus has been different. It just opened our eyes like you don’t know who’s struggling,” said SLU student Audrey Williams. “You don’t know what people are going through.”
Since the fall, four SLU students have committed suicide. One was on the varsity swim team with second Jack Locke. They were close friends.
“It doesn’t like to shock you until it actually happens and it’s so surprising and everything kind of just kind of stands still,” Locke explained.
Locke said the university stepped in and offered the swim team counseling and other mental health services to deal with the sudden loss.
“I really think being a college athlete is tough. It’s a big fight. It’s a lot of work, especially swimming. It’s tough doing two workouts a day, eating and taking classes. and keep the ratings high,” he said. mentioned.
Knieba Jones-Johnson is director of the university council and said access to mental health care is a top priority.
“Students have to meet demands and expectations, which is often very rigorous and overwhelming,” Jones-Johnson said. “I think one of the things students struggle with is what do I do now, where do I go?”
Saint Louis University is creative in how it reaches out to its students to inform them of the mental health resources available on campus. They placed signs on campus with QR codes. Students can scan them with their phone and it takes them straight to the website where all the resources are available.
Jones-Johnson said more than 6,000 counseling appointments have been made this academic year, representing almost half of the student population.
“I think it’s important to think about hope and think about how our students overcome their stressors and that the university is there to provide that support,” Jones-Johnson said.
Junior Audrey Williams leads a women’s mental health group on campus.
“We were able to facilitate conversations with SLU students and hold open hearings about people’s experiences and how they would like to see SLU change its resources,” she said.
Often friends and family have no idea that their loved one is in trouble.
“I don’t want to leave here today without encouraging parents to really make sure you have conversations with your students about how you are doing, are you struggling with anything?” said Jones-Johnson.
Locke said he was doing well with the loss of his friend.
“I just want people to know that he was a very sweet and kind person, and I want everyone to check up on their friends, no matter if you think they’re okay or not. Just check them out, d to be there for them,” he said.
SLU has also partnered with behavioral health response counselors who work inside student dormitories, readily available when students need someone to talk to.
Our other local colleges and universities are also making mental health a priority.
Mental health resources at local universities:
Saint Louis University: https://www.slu.edu/wellbeing/
UMSL: https://www.umsl.edu/hcdas/counseling/services/index.html
University of Southern Illinois at Edwardsville: https://www.siue.edu/counseling/
University of Washington: https://students.wustl.edu/community-mental-health-services/
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