A recent NUS study found that 78% of students experienced a mental health problem over the last year, 1 in 3 students had suicidal thoughts and, of these students, 33% did not know where to go to access support.
This research prompted the University of Central Lancashire to release a Suicide Reduction Strategy.
Developed with the Department of Health, the strategy includes lowering the possibility of suicide amongst their students and ensuring appropriate support is available for ones bereaved or affected by suicide. The university want to regularly review their support mechanisms, procedures, resources and environmental factors and increase awareness of support available for those at risk and reduce the stigma around suicide and those engaging with self-harm.
The World Health Organisation reported that close to 800,000 people take their own life every year and many more people who attempt suicide. People of every age commit suicide and it was the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally in 2015.
This age group includes university students who experience a high level of stress each semester and are recognised as a high level risk for suicidal thoughts and, in 2016 – 2017, there were 2.32 million students studying at one of the UK's 168 higher education institutions. A statistic from Universities UK.
The survey from the NUS shows that course deadlines (65%), exams (54%) and financial difficulties (47%) are key triggers of mental distress for students. These statistics highlight young suicide in the UK and how, for the past ten years, it has been at its highest.
Ged Flynn, Chief Executive of the national charity PAPYRUS - Prevention of Young Suicide, said:
"Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK. It is a national crisis that can no longer be ignored."
"We can think of nothing more important than stopping young people killing themselves. Surely it is the primary duty of any government to protect the public."
Every suicide is a tragedy that affects a minimum of 6 people who experience a severe effect. Suicide does not just occur in high-income countries, but is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world.
In fact, over 78% of global suicides occurred in low and middle income countries in 2015. Suicide is a serious public health problem; however, suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions.
For national responses to be effective, a comprehensive multisectoral suicide prevention strategy is needed.
The Office for National Statistics reported the number of suicides, and suicide rates, by sex and age, in the UK, registered between 1981 to 2016.
On the University of Central Lancashire's website, they have added a 'Suicide Prevention' student support page for their current students where they express that students feeling the pressure of university life aren't alone. Student support and wellbeing appointments are available as well as a help line run by the universities trained security staff who can offer support or just someone to talk to.
Advice is available on their website to help spot signs of suicidal thoughts in others and with this new scheme released, this can hopefully be the start of a new future for not just students but others experiences suicidal tendencies.
Top photo was photographed by Adam Fagen (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
