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Suicide Prevention and Life Transitions: Young Adulthood

The transition to young adulthood is filled with new experiences and decisions to be made, including whether to attend post-secondary school, such as college or university.

 

Beginning college or university can come with many significant changes which may impact a person’s mental health and wellbeing. Changes such as moving to a new city and/or leaving the family home and having increased independence while also coping with new internal and external expectations can create significant stress. Students may experience a mix of emotions during this transition, such as fear and excitement, which may also cause confusion or doubt about their experiences. As a result, post-secondary students may experience increased suicidal ideation during their post-secondary education.

 

Research shows that in Canada, 15% of post-secondary students report they have contemplated suicide in the past year, compared to 4% of the general adult population in Ontario (Eisenberg et al., 2022; CAMH 2020). This data suggests that there may be a higher prevalence of suicide ideation among university and college students, compared to other adults.

Below, we share information on risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs that are more commonly experienced by post-secondary students. Ways to support students and help them to keep safe from suicide are also discussed.

 

For more information on risk and protective factors, as well as warning signs for suicide, visit: (insert link for risk factors page).

 

Risk Factors for Post-Secondary Students

 

A 2021 systemic review on suicidal behaviour in university students (Pillay, 2021) identified some common risk factors for suicide experienced by students. These include:

  • Having a disability or other health-related problems.
  • Having experienced negative and/or traumatic life events, including adverse childhood experiences.
  • Lack of social support, including the loss of members of their social support system.
  • University stressors which include:
    • Struggling to keep up with academic workload
    • Financial stress related to the cost of education
    • The pressure to succeed

Many of these risk factors are like those found in the general population who may be experiencing different life transitions.

 

Warning Signs for Post-Secondary Students

Similarly to the risk factors that were noted, many warning signs for suicide in post-secondary students are like warning signs that are seen in other populations.

General warning signs include:

  • Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
  • Feelings of being trapped
  • Dramatic mood changes
  • Withdrawal from friends and family
  • Withdrawal from activities that were previously enjoyed
  • Increased use or misuse of alcohol or drugs

Warning signs specific to post-secondary students include:

  • A sudden drop in academic performance
  • Frequent absences in classes, particularly if student previously attended regularly

 

Supporting Students to Keep Safe from Suicide

How can students, post-secondary institutions, and the community help to address suicide risk?

Post-secondary students can help to increase their resiliency and keep safe from suicide by developing a positive self-identity, engaging in self-compassion, and exploring meaning and purpose in their life (Pillay, 2021). Maintaining strong, positive relationships and receiving support from friends and family is also important in protecting against suicide risk. Also, developing and pursuing interests and fostering a sense of self beyond being a student may help individuals to explore the meaning and purpose in their life.

Post-secondary institutions, such as universities and colleges, can also implement policies and programs to help protect students from suicide. Some examples of activities that can help to support student wellbeing are:

  • Engaging in means safety by building safe student residences.
  • Providing mental health literacy and gatekeeper training for staff, such as those offered by LivingWorks.
  • Developing and implementing resilience and conflict management programs.
  • Supporting activities that enhance student optimism, sense of belonging, and emotional stability.
  • Providing on-campus options for mental health and wellness support, as well as information about community resources.

(Sources: Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health, 2021; Linden et al., 2021; Pillay, 2021).

 

The activities mentioned above and summarized in the table below work to address suicide risk in in different ways, although it important to remember that they may not entirely eliminate the risk of suicide for students. Some of these efforts, such as developing and implementing resilience programs or supporting activities that enhance optimism and belonging, might be understood as upstream efforts. Upstream suicide prevention efforts aim to build a person’s mental health literacy and help them to develop positive and healthy coping strategies in order to decrease the likelihood of a suicidal crisis happening.

 

Other activities, such as providing mental health literacy and gatekeeper training for staff or providing on-campus options for mental health support, aim to build the capacity of the post-secondary community to recognize and respond to students in distress.

 

Colleges and universities are likely to have the most success in supporting student wellbeing and keeping them safe from suicide when they incorporate strategies that involve a variety of activities along the suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention spectrum.

 

Summary of Activities to Support Suicide Prevention Amongst Post-Secondary Students

Individuals Post-Secondary Institutions Communities
Developing a positive sense of self and self-identity.   Practicing self-compassion.   Exploring meaning and purpose outside of academic achievement.   Maintaining healthy relationships with others.   Seeking professional help and support.   Maintaining a regular schedule or routine Providing safe student residences and learning spaces.   Providing mental health literacy and gatekeeper training for staff.   Developing and implementing resilience and conflict management programs.   Providing appropriate accommodation(s) for those with disabilities.   Providing options for on-campus mental health care.   Spreading awareness about other community-based mental health supports available, and how to access them.   Encouraging safe and responsible consumption of alcohol and other substances.   Support and sustain community mental health programs.   Share information about community-based supports and how students can access them.   Engage students in opportunities to volunteer or have a positive impact in the broader community.

 

Conclusion

The first blog post in the Life Transitions campaign series has focused on young adults’ transition to post-secondary school, such as university or college. The information provided is a brief overview; for more details or to access support, visit the resources below.

 

Resources for Support

If you are a post-secondary student, or someone supporting a post-secondary student, there are options for help and support.

 

Good 2 Talk: https://good2talk.ca/

Good 2 Talk provides free, confidential support services for post-secondary students in Ontario and Nove Scotia.

 

Here 24/7 Addictions, Mental Health & Crisis Services Waterloo – Wellington: www.here247.ca

Here 24/7 is your front door to the addictions, mental health, and crisis services provided by 11 agencies across Waterloo Region and Wellington County.

 

Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline: www.988.ca

988 is Canada’s three-digit suicide crisis helpline. Available 24/7 across Canada, individuals can call or text 9-8-8 for help and support.

 

Resources for Further Learning

The following resources may provide more information about student mental health and suicide prevention.

Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health

Home – Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health

Their mission is to help Ontario’s post-secondary institutions enhance their capacity to support student mental health and well-being.

Mental Health Commission of Canada

Insights on Implementation of the National Standard for Mental Health and Well-being of Post-Secondary Students – Mental Health Commission of Canada

The Mental Health Commission of Canada has supported the development and implementation of a National Standard for Mental Health and Well-being of Post Secondary Students. This National Standard was originally released in 2020.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center: Colleges & Universities

Colleges and Universities – Suicide Prevention Resource Center (sprc.org)

Based in the United States, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center is devoted to advancing the implementation of the United States’ National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. There are a few different resources which may be helpful to university and college administrators.

Citations

Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH). (2020). Mental illness and addiction: Facts and statistics. Centre for Addictions and Mental Health. Retrieved from: https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics

Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (2021). Post-Secondary National Standard for Mental Health and Wellbeing Toolkit.

Eisenberg, D., Lipson S. K., Heinze, J. & Zhou, S. (2022). Healthy Minds Study among Colleges and Universities. Healthy Minds Network. University of Michigan, University of California Los Angeles, Boston University, and Wayne State University. Retrieved from: https://healthymindsnetwork.org/reserach/data-for-researchers

Linden, B., Boyes, R. & Stuart, H. (2021). Cross-sectional trend analysis of the NCHA II survey data on Canadian post-secondary student mental health and wellbeing from 2013 to 2019. BMC Public Health 21, 590. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10622-1

Pillay, J (2021). Suicidal behaviour among university students: a systematic review. South African Journal of Psychology, 51(1):54-66. doi:10.1177/0081246321992177

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Please note, the WRSPC does not provide counselling or crisis support.

For access to mental health, addictions, and crisis services in the Waterloo Region call Here 24/7 at (844) 437-3247.

In case of an immediate emergency, call 911.

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