Miami makes suicide prevention a campus priority
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Miami University will put a spotlight on suicide prevention this week to emphasize that support doesn't have to start with a counselor — or wait until someone is in crisis.
Why it matters: The Oxford campus' annual Suicide Prevention Week comes as colleges across the country confront one of the leading causes of death among young adults.
By the numbers: Suicide was the second-leading cause of death for Americans ages 15 to 34 in 2024, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
- The suicide rate for that age group fell 4% from 2023 to 2024, from 15.9 deaths per 100,000 people to 15.2.
The big picture: College can bring its own pressures as students navigate academics, relationships, newfound independence and decisions about their futures, often away from established support systems.
- Miami, like other college communities, has lost members of its community to suicide.
- The university doesn't discuss individual cases, but Steve Large, Miami's assistant VP for health and wellness, says a loss can reverberate across a close-knit campus.
For Miami, prevention means building connections and making it easier for students to seek help, and for the people around them to recognize when something may be wrong.
- "That's why creating strong connections and making support easy to access are such important parts of our prevention efforts," Large says.
What they're saying: Large says Suicide Prevention Week is ultimately about making conversations around mental health and seeking help a more normal part of campus life.
- "You don't have to have the right words or know exactly what to do," he says. "You can simply let someone know that you care and help connect them to someone who can provide additional support."
Zoom in: The week includes the Out of the Darkness 2K Suicide Prevention Walk, suicide prevention training and dog and horse therapy activities.
- Miami also offers year-round counseling, psychiatric care, peer education, student organizations and early intervention programs.
Get help: Miami students can contact Student Counseling Service during business hours or the 24/7 H.O.P.E. Line at 855-249-5649. Students can also text "MUHOPE" to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
Anyone can call or text 988, or chat with someone at 988lifeline.org.