“One suicide in our community is too many” are the words that both captured and impacted Bucks students at the recent screening of a film on the topic.

The screening in the Gallagher Room on Oct. 8, called “The Truth about Suicide: Real Stories of Depression in College,” was planned by counselors because they felt the need to spread awareness in the college community.

“Unfortunately, suicide is the second leading cause of death in the population,” says Jim Gilligan, Counselor of Student Planning Services at Bucks. “I think our job as faculty members, is to get the word out to college students and educate them with this issue. We hope that the more they know about suicide, the better chance we have to prevent it from happening.”

According to one of the handouts distributed prior to the film, “about 75 percent of victims show signs before deciding on their death.” Some of the many symptoms include depression, loss of interest in activities, change in eating or sleeping habits, and a sense of hopelessness.

Bucks student Maurin MacNamara, 20, a science major from Revere, could not fight back her tears when openly talking about the death of her close friend, who committed suicide last year. “I knew that she was facing problems, but I thought things were getting better with prom and graduation. I was wrong.”

Bucks student Isabel Berrocal, 19, a business major from Langhorne, admitted, “I felt pressure into doing schoolwork and felt like if I didn’t do it, my life would be over.”

The majority of the time, someone who is going through depression or having suicidal thoughts can start to isolate themselves from the world around them. They might feel as if they are alone and that no one can neither understand or help them move forward from their situation.

However, for those who seek advice on how to overcome their battle, “finding someone to vent or talk to about everything that is weighing you down in your life is a great way to keep you from feeling depressed,” says, Chris Larson, 21, a liberal arts major from Philadelphia.

Joel Cervantes, 21, a nursing major from Bensalem, added, “There is a lot of negativity in this world and sometimes you have to take a stand to be the positive point in someone’s life.”

Bullying can also be a cause of depression. According to studies by Yale University, “bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims.”

Erica McCreery, 18, a psychology major from Bensalem remarks, “I went through a phase of depression when I was in school because of how bullying seemed to stress me out and cause anxiety. You feel helpless and you simply cannot find the motivation to deal with anyone.”

There are many actions each student can take to prevent suicides. Students who are going through rough times can seek a counselor from Student Services.

“We can help you to the best of our ability to cope with this issue; but if it is severe, then it would be highly advised to be hospitalized to get the help that is needed,” says Gilligan.

A suicide ends one life, but also irreparably changes the lives of others. Jasmine Bonet, 18, a psychology major from Bensalem, says, “it is crazy that people would even consider doing something like that because not only are you harming yourself, but you are hurting all of the people that care about you as well.”

Let’s all take a stance and help those around us to fight with our inner battles. If you know anyone who is in need of guidance, visit the counseling office at Student Services or call them at (215) 968- 8189 to set up an appointment.