1.) Statement of Research Question Is US University and College education not actively preventing students from the act of suicide? Suicide is becoming major issue in US Universities and colleges. There are around 1100 students at around the age of eighteen to twenty-four committing suicide on campus each year. With depressed students going through the factor of anxiety, relationship problem, family problem, and close-friend pass away would contribute to the process of bitter depression. Therefore, “how are the administrative of higher education seriously handling these problems or are they carelessly handling these problems?” I might ask. Years have passed and better psychiatrist, outreach program, and other association are fervently continuing to carefully investigate deeply into this issue in order to find a better solution for intervention, prevention, and postvention in solving the act of suicide attempt from students. I doubt, will there be a conclusive ending for student’s suicidal? I would argue, however in reality, there are no concrete ways in American Universities and Colleges to effectively prevent students from impulsively committing suicide. 2.) Statement of Interest My passionate interest is to seek in further relationship and bonding with depressed student who are feeling “hopelessness and helplessness, loneliness, and depression” (Lamberg, 2006). The reason for exploring this question is out great curiosity in understanding if administrators of higher education are seriously handling the problem of student’s psychological problem in pondering about suicidal. Although I will not be a psychologist, this crucial topic can be beneficial to me in understanding the inner heart of every troubled student in order to meet their needs. They may also be able to earnestly seek help around the community. This, however, may not directly benefit my discipline. But knowing that higher education have appropriate treatment and counselling on campus, it benefits my outward discipline in diligently engage them if I struggle with anxiety in school. 3.) Audience and Purpose The purpose is to directly address two intended audiences: US University and College Administrators, and depressed students. Given the fact some universities and colleges in USA have strict policy in suspending or withdrawing students with suicidal attempts; however, it is also due to utter fear among administrators. In an article written by Susanna G. Dyer, she argues that asking students to leave mandatory does create barrier for student to receive the best appropriate treatment from mental-health clinicians because they recognize the student’s condition much deeply and can respond to the imminent probability of suicide (Dyer, 2008). In response, there are mass variety of treatments and programs to mentally and physically deal with the student’s health. However, it may reduce the result of suicide rate, but it does not conclusively prevent suicidal attempt by students. As for depressed students, this becomes a bigger problem because they have their own choice to seek appropriate treatment of their own. As young adults, students have their own rights and responsibility. Therefore, through my paper, I do not desire them to continue their ignorance if they are seriously in need of psychological helps. Counsellors, treatments, and programs are offered on campus, but they do not seek them and receive the medical care. 4.) Brief Literature Review There are numerous of work of experts and authors in the researching I will be writing. Paul Appelbaum is one of the major authors regarding the depth of the issue of depressed student. In summary of what he did, he argued against the administrators for being naïve in using strict policy which students are barred from campus if they exhibit suicidal ideation. Furthermore, he argues against that sending depressed student does not essentially solve their mental state of dark emotions from attempting suicide again. Depressed students should be recognized as adults who are in need of treatment from mental-health clinicians. Rather than suspending or withdrawing disabled students from campus, allow them to earnestly seek and receive counselling and medical care. An outreach sponsored by the Ohio State University Campus Suicide Prevention Program is designed to reach out friends who are in their negative state. Their passion in the importance of prevention signifies their heart in valuing a human being. On their website, learning more about the importance of prevention, stress, depression, and anxiety can greatly benefit students to reach out their friends. The result of mental-disabled student that open to share and seek out treatment is greatly notify than the past generation. However, students have stigma and would does not seek intervention, which I agree because it is a person’s decision. 5.) Brief Statement of Relevance The relevance in my thesis focuses on the impossibility for suicidal to end, while other arguments are solely focused on providing helpful treatments to reduce suicide rate. Not to contradict myself, my thesis does not position myself to be passive about the risk of student, but while it is true that suicidal is inconclusive, reducing the risk of a student’s life is still valuable by continuing with good treatments and counselling. 6.) Research Paper Outline For my outline, I will be providing an introduction paragraph to set the detail of my research paper and give my thesis. Current policy and struggles in terms of suicidal attempts are difficulty in foreseeing to prevent it. Indeed, administrator of higher education have been playing an active role in preventing students from committing suicide, but are they carelessly following policy or are they desiring to pursue student who are in need? On my third paragraph, as an example of a given legal case, it will connect and back-up my claim from my previous paragraph. Therefore, agreeing upon the argument made by one of my major authors, Paul S. Appelbaum,, he argues against suspension and mandatory withdrawal. Furthermore, personal opinion on which position I agree on because he gives an explanation for such argument. Later, he suggests an improvement with appropriate treatments and counselling on campus. The only reasonable question I will raise is, “Are students making the rightful decision to seek treatment when desperately needed?”
