Suicide is consistently a leading cause of death among college students, with risk shaped by mental health, social and structural factors, and access to support. SciLine’s next media briefing will examine what research tells us about suicide risk among college students, disparities affecting minority student populations, and evidence-based approaches to prevention. Experts will also discuss how journalists can accurately report on suicide and mental health while avoiding common misconceptions and better understanding risk and protective factors.
During this briefing, experts will address:
What current data show about suicide ideation and suicide risk among college students, and how trends have changed over the past decade;
The roles of discrimination, racism, racial stress, and other forms of trauma on suicide ideation;
What are suicide contagion and suicide clusters, and why this is particularly relevant to colleges and universities;
Which suicide prevention strategies have the strongest evidence base for college populations;
How universities can create protective environments and barriers that prevent students from accessing mental health services and interventions; and
What journalists should know when covering suicide, including how to use precise terminology, interpret research and risk data, and provide accurate context.
Three panelists will participate in a moderated discussion, then take questions from reporters, all on the record:
