North Carolina State University (NC State) announced on Thursday that two more of its students died by suicide this week. The school is responding by offering more counseling and resources for the campus community.
In a statement, University Chancellor Randy Woodson, called the deaths “heartbreaking.”
“Please take extra care of yourselves, keep an eye out for each other and be on the lookout for those around you who might need help. Don’t be afraid to intervene if you think a friend is struggling, and please don’t feel ashamed if you’re struggling,” Woodson said.
He encouraged the campus community to find help if they are feeling overwhelmed or just want to talk about how they feel. Woodson reminded students they can make appointments at NC State’s counseling center or with one of the campus’ community providers.
Additionally, the counseling center is hosting several drop-in spaces over the next several days to provide support and services for the campus community. Friends can also make online referrals for a student or employee they are concerned about.
The university is also implementing many recommendations made in February by its mental health task force, reports CBS17. A study conducted by the task force found that 34% of NC State students surveyed were dealing with depression, and 12% had suicidal thoughts.
This year, NC State, which has more than 36,000 students, has had an unusually high number of student deaths by suicide, reports ABC11. In total, 14 students have died this school year from various causes, with seven dying by suicide.
If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can text TALK to 741741 or initiate an online chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/. You can also call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Additional resources can also be found at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
