It's a loose, invented rumor that MIT, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, has the highest rate of suicides in its student body. But with five suicides within a three-year span (between the years of 1998-2001) and counting, this seemingly mythical rumor begins to purge itself of its fictitious nature.
During their undergraduate years, many of my relatives (including my uncle) lived at MIT's MacGregor House, a dorm with a sad history of multiple student suicides. I can only imagine the shock and horror running through not only the immediate family of the victims but also that of the suitemates, the resident advisors, the neighbors, those who shared a "good morning" glance upon waking hours.
My heart goes out to all the friends and families of these students. Despite speculation of the immense stress and, as far as I can tell, impossible workload at the university, we will never know the exact precipitate, the specific collection of thoughts that ran in these students' minds as they made their final decision. Because of this, MIT has dramatically increased their mental health services - and I mean dramatically. Although this is a substantial effort by the administration, I feel that many of the cases they handle are dealt with to unnecessary extremities and exaggerations that result in academic expulsion of some students, which I believe is an extraneous and inappropriate move.
In short, do expand mental health services. Do watch out for students. But please, do it ethically - apply proper counseling or therapy as needed, administer medication when essential - just don't remove students from the undergraduate endowment by ignorantly deeming them "mentally unfit" for such ridiculous reasons.
you tell 'em boobs. Again, beautifully written. <3
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