This past week the Wolfpack family lost one of its own, sadly in an apparent suicide. We must now ask ourselves what we as a campus can do to make people realize there is no need to turn to suicide.

In his last LiveJournal entry, Frank Chen stated, “I don’t feel like I’d be particularly missed …” He went on to say, “I’m replaceable.” These statements should send red flags throughout the entire University.

It is imperative for members of the campus community to make more of an effort to get to know and understand one another. Establishing this kind of bond would hopefully deter one from feeling the need to take his or her life.

According to suicide.org, a young person (age 15 – 24), on average, commits suicide every 2 hours and 12 minutes. Furthermore, according to a 2006 study by the American College Health Association, 10 percent of college students have considered suicide. These numbers are far too high, and we must act to reduce them.

After someone commits suicide, friends and family members often say they were unaware of what the person was dealing with. This is a major problem, and one that we must strive to solve.

It is easy to notice how cut off from the world we have become by walking around campus. MP3 players and cell phones are distractions and deprive us of personal human interaction. It is time to stop distancing ourselves from our peers and reenter the world of conversation. No one should feel ostracized or replaceable in society. Everyone has a place in his or her environment. Our University has countless organizations that cover the entire spectrum of student interests. These groups should strive to have open hearts, open minds and open doors to the entire campus community.

The sad part about suicide is people could be contemplating it and no one may ever know.

According to statistics, if you are in a class of 100 students about 10 of them have thought about ending their lives — one of them might even be sitting next to you. Unlike having a cold or the flu, there are often no signs that people have thought about taking their own lives. Usually, all that is left is a note, a video or posting on a Web site, such as LiveJournal. Unfortunately, when people see the video or read the note, they question its validity or it is already too late.

Only when people announce their intentions do they get the attention they desperately deserve before their thoughts turn to suicide.

As members of the N.C. State community, there is only one way to address this issue, and that is to become more in-tune with each other and willing to reach out.

It is only in this way that we can take the first steps to eliminating suicide.

E-mail Matt your suggestions on how to prevent suicide at [email protected].