Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens and young adults in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
It leaves behind family and friends asking questions, trying to understand.
And very often, there are not many answers to give.
But suicide is preventable if the right measures are taken to provide support for those facing these difficult problems.
And when it comes to providing support, Appalachian State University is doing its best to help students.
Thanks to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Suicide Prevention Program at the university will receive more funding through a three-year, $192,000 grant, according to news.appstate.edu.
The grant will allow for greater organization by adding a suicide prevention coordinator, who will facilitate the students and staff within the program.
They will also be able to purchase an interactive online training program and expand the number of people who receive the training, according to news.appstate.edu.
This is an extremely effective means of using the funding that has been provided for the school to help its students.
Expanding the amount of people who receive the new training will create a school-wide network of people who are trained to recognize suicidal thoughts and direct the students to the proper resources.
The new form of training will include easier access and up-to-date information on the topic of suicide.
More than half of students surveyed, both undergraduate and graduate, had considered suicide at some point in their lives, according to a 2008 study from ABC news involving 26,000 college students from 70 different schools.
That’s why the school is taking more steps to ensure that they can help the students here that need it, and the school should be applauded for such action.
The program will be incorporated within the school’s student safety program, APPCares.
The suicide prevention program will become a part of the It’s Up to Me campaign, which encourages student involvement when they see something potentially harmful taking place.
There have been times that I needed help in similar regards and there were people willing to help me.
That opportunity to get help will now be given to everyone here at Appalachian.
Opinion: ELIZABETH MCMICHAEL, Opinion writer