The death of third-year College student Aaron John Fox in his father's home over Spring Break has brought the issue of suicide among college students to the University community.
The details of Fox's death have not been released as of yesterday but it has been identified as suicide.
The Office of the Dean of Students "received word from his father saying he was comfortable with people knowing the manner of his [Aaron's] death," Dean of Students Penny Rue said.
A memorial service for Fox was held last Friday in Fairfax at Everly Funeral Home.
Individuals wishing to offer condolences to Fox's family may contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 924-7133.
Although this suicide is the first to touch the University community in the past two years, suicide is a serious issue in the college community nationally.
According to the American Federation for the Prevention of Suicide, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among American college students. It is second only to traffic accidents.
Since 1950, the suicide rate among college-aged women has more than doubled and the rate among college-aged men has tripled.
While some individuals do not show any sign that they are contemplating suicide, some give off warning signals in a "cry for help."
Depressed individuals are most susceptible to suicide. Over 95 percent of all suicide victims were depressed before death.
"They may say something like, 'Everything would be better off without me.' Or 'It doesn't matter. I won't be around much longer anyway,' according to the Web site for Suicide Awareness Voices for Education. "We need to 'key into' phrases like those instead of dismissing them as just talk."
It is estimated that 80 percent of people who died of suicide mentioned it to a friend or relative before dying, the Web site added.
Other common warning signs of suicide include statements of hopelessness or worthlessness, preoccupation with death, loss of interest in things one formerly cared about, visiting or calling loved ones, giving away possessions or anything that indicates the person may be putting their affairs in order.
According to a survey last year by the International Association of Counseling Services, 30 percent of 274 colleges surveyed reported a student suicide in the past year.
However, only 10 percent of campus counseling centers reported a recent suicide, suggesting that students that seek counseling are less likely to commit suicide.
The University's Counseling and Psychological Services offers a full range of counseling options for students affected directly or indirectly by depression or suicide.
CAPS programs include individual or group psychotherapy, medical evaluation and preventative education outreach programs. They also have 24-hour on-call phone services.
University community members that suspect they or someone they know is susceptible to serious depression or suicide are urged to call CAPS at 924-5556.
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