Staff Editorial: Suicides spark debate

A recent rash of suicides at New York University has prompted college administrators across the country to examine existing policies for identifying and treating overstressed and severely depressed students. Possible institutional remedies under discussion nationally include circumventing existing privacy laws that keep important information from reaching parents, and strengthening suicide awareness, education and treatment programs. While getting parents involved may seem like a good idea on the surface, it can often cause more stress than it prevents. Duke, for its part, should focus on expanding the resources available to CAPS, and educate students about the programs provided there.

When students leave home to go to college, the experience can be overwhelming. The results of the Women's Initiative, recent Chronicle guest columns, and general observation tell us that despite the fun, parties and sports events, stress is a central component of male and female students' daily lives. In addition, a gulf can grow between a student and their parents--in fact, the parents of many individuals who commit suicide never get a strong indication that there was even problem. Due to this, some are advocating changes in The Family Educational Rights Privacy Act, which prevents parents from accessing students' records, and in many cases, information about their children's mental health.

Ideally, parents would be a positive influence on students. However, in practice, this is not always the case, and their involvement may actually have adverse effects. Many students may refrain from seeking help at CAPS because they don't want their parents to be notified. Parents of Duke students often expect a great deal from their children, who do not want to disappoint them. The most effective tool available to parents is nurturing their children while they are at home, and making sure that they understand that they can be open, and that the most important thing is their health and happiness. Further, college students are adults, and must be treated so legally and practically.

The onus at Duke is on individuals--administrators, professors and students. Be on the lookout for signs of depression in your students and classmates--excessive sleeping, dramatic changes in quality of classwork and attendance, irregular eating habits and mood swings. CAPS should make an effort to reduce the time students have to wait for an appointment, and contract out to other health professionals when necessary, but ultimately, the responsibility for sparing our community the tragedies experienced at NYU falls on each of us.