Educating students about suicide: A framework for the use of fotonovelas on college campuses

Résumé

There are more than 1,000 suicides on college campuses every year, with rates of completed suicide ranging between 0.5-7.5 per 100,000 among students. In addition to the prevalence of suicide ideation, attempts, and completions, students at high risk of suicide often do not seek help. As a major public health problem, suicide prevalence has not been effectively addressed on college campuses. The topic of suicide continues to be laden with secrecy, stigma, and shame. Many at-risk college students feel that they might be marked as weak and lacking in faith and ‘will-power’ if they were to disclose their suicidal thoughts and seek help. We propose a framework for integrating the development and use of fotonovelas in campus-based suicide prevention programs. Such integration of fotonovelas, especially on culturally diverse campuses, can enhance awareness and information, reduce stigma, and provide tangible resources for support that can contribute positively to students’ help-seeking behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved) JEUNE-ADULTE ÉTUDIANT-UNIVERSITAIRE PRÉVENTION PROGRAMME