10.19.10

Today I'd like to dedicate my blog post to a girl I knew from high school. Her name was Whitney Mayer, she went to William and Mary University, and was a Sharpe Scholar. I only met her a few times, but from the impressions she gave me, I knew she was a very kind and intelligent girl. She was very cheery, had a love for the environment and kept many friends.

Last Thursday night, Whitney took her own life.

I don't think anyone will ever understand what provoked Whitney to kill herself. Such a drastic and tragic decision should never be made by anyone.

If you are having serious thoughts about killing yourself, please contact someone, anyone. It's never worth it. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. You may think that nobody will care if you take your own life, but that is completely untrue. I barely knew Whitney, but upon learning of her suicide I became extremely upset. A fellow student taking her own life is unnecessary and incredibly painful for those close to her. The devastation I've seen because of it is overwhelming.

Here are some facts about depression and suicide:

-121 million people worldwide suffer from depression. (World Health Organization)

- 18 million of these cases are happening in the United States. (The National Institute of Mental Health)

- Between 20% and 50% of children and teens struggling with depression have a family history of this struggle and the offspring of depressed parents are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression. (U.S. Surgeon General's Survey, 1999)

- Depression often co-occurs with anxiety disorders and substance abuse, with 30 percent of teens with depression also developing a substance abuse problem. (NIMH)

- 2/3 of those suffering from depression never seek treatment.

Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. (NIMH)

These facts are from To Write Love On Her Arms, or TWLOHA, an organization aimed at preventing suicide and self-injury. The stories on their website, www.twloha.com, are incredibly eye-opening.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, please call the Missouri Suicide & Crisis hotline at 1-800-811-4760. We also have great staff on campus at the Counseling Center that are ready to listen to anyone.

Rest in Peace, Whitney Mayer. You will be missed.