Cornell University & M.E. Confirms Suicide Count Up To Six
March 23rd, 2010 - 3:28 am ICT by Angela Kaye MasonMar 22 (THAINDIAN NEWS) The Tompkins County chief medical examiner has confirmed the two suspected of suicide were indeed cases of Cornell University college students taking their own lives. The medical examiner’s office has reached out the the families before making an official announcement publicly.
Although the exact cause of these students taking their own lives is still unknown, The Ivy League school located in New York is known to have a very rigorous academic program which breeds a very high pressure atmosphere. The two recent suicides bring the number of self-inflicted deaths this year to six for the school. Although the nature of the programs there leaves these students exposed to the high stress levels, experts are unsure what is so different this year. There were no suicides from the years 2005-2008 at the school, and then six this year. School officials are even calling it a “public health crisis.”
David Skorton , who has been president of the university since 2005 has been noticed for his aggressive native in reaching students on the controversial issue. The school has also been shown appreciation by chairman of the American College Health Association’s Mental Health Best Practices Task Force, psychologist Keith Anderson. because of their comprehensive programs on understanding and preventing suicides by the students. Skorton sent an email out to the students and also placed a full page ad every day for the last week which read “If you learn anything at Cornell, please learn to ask for help. It is a sign of wisdom and strength.”
According to officials, Matthew Zek committed suicide Friday near the suspension bridge which hangs over Fall Creek Gorge. On Thursday, less than 24 hours previous, emergency crews recovered the body of William Sinclair from Fall Creek Gorge under another bridge, the Thurston Avenue Bridge. On February 17, another student was found dead in the same area. Guards are now being placed at the bridges which are the most common sites for suicide attempts, and student groups are forming to try to reach out to those who may need help. For more on this story, see the video embedded below.
Video: Student suicide an issue at Cornell
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