Characteristics and Risk Factors for Suicide and Deaths Among College Students

Abstract

Objective: Suicide is a leading cause of death for college students. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors of suicide among college students that could improve university services to help prevent college suicide. Method: We conducted a 23-year serial prevalence study of the prevalence and characteristics of death and suicide among 8,262,314 collected data from Japanese college students. We analyzed rates of suicide from 1989-90 through 2011-12 and characterized suicide among this population, focusing on students’ gender, psychiatric, and academic backgrounds to identify risk factors for suicide. Results: Suicide rates increased throughout the 23 years, and suicide has been the leading cause of death every year since 1996. Suicide consisted 42.4% of all deaths that happened in the 23 years. Males, medicine majors, students in the final year of their program and students who completed extra years of schooling or took academic leaves of absence were at higher risk for suicide. Only 16.4% had received an official psychiatric diagnosis and 16.0% had received services through the university health center prior to the suicides. Conclusion: Results suggest the need for a stronger support system for college students. Areas for improvement could include better advertising of the mental health services, student and staff education about suicide risk factors, and mentorship and outreach programs for students in their final year of classes, those majoring in medicine, and those who have taken leaves of absence or failed classes.