(Links can be found at For Our Future)
College is an incredibly stressful environment. Sadly, many young people are unable to handle the pressure. Some breakdown, some withdraw and a small number tragically kill themselves. Unfortunately, both educators and parents are approaching the problem in the wrong way. The only way to prevent student suicide is to dramatically change the culture of higher education.
Whenever a student takes their own life, there is an intense debate about the liability of a college or university. Many parents argue that faculty and staff should be held accountable for being negligent. Colleges and universities contend that strict privacy laws stymie aggressive responses to students in crisis. Two high profile lawsuits have resulted in verdicts that favor institutions of higher education. While many universities have pledged to hire more counseling staff, the real solution can be found in the classroom.
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