Friends, family first defense against suicide, counselor says

Whaley, 22, a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, died Saturday morning of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, said UAPD Cmdr. Brian Seastone.

It is the first on campus, student suicide in at least five years, he said.

Although Whaley's death is one of the few on campus suicides in recent years, Ken Marsh, director of the University of Arizona's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), said student suicides happen every year.

"You know it is going to happen, you just don't know who and when. You try to create a network of services that they won't slip through," Marsh said.

That network starts with family, friends and social organizations, he said, adding the CAPS program run by the Campus Heath Center is always available.

Two counselors are available in the afternoons for walk-in appointments, he said.

A call to Campus Health is the best move for students who are having thoughts of suicide, or know a friend who is, Seastone said.

Despite the services available, some students don't know where to turn.

"UA has a problem with promoting most of their organizations," said political science freshman Jennifer Lewis.

"I don't think if there was (help), that people could find it," said Cambria Burton, an undeclared sophomore.

But Carrie Boden, a pre-nursing sophomore, said one of her friends who was having trouble dealing with stress simply went into Campus Health and asked for help.

"If you look for it, it is easy to find," she said.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college-aged individuals, after accidents, Marsh said.

"We deal with someone every day who is thinking about suicide," he said. "The situations we are most concerned with are people who have thought about it and are serious."

Marsh said most who are truly suicidal lose perspective and close themselves off from the people closest to them. As a result, they may seem perfectly normal, he said.

This seems to be the case in Whaley's sudden death. Sunday, his friends said they were puzzled, and Kappa Sigma House director Alex Alcantra said Whaley seemed normal just the day before his death.

Kappa Sigma member Mark Rooney mentioned that Whaley had a grin on his face during a class Friday. "No one could have seen it coming," he said.

Marsh said people who become severely depressed lose the ability to communicate their feelings with others.

"They lose perspective and the ability to see life from a different angle. They get locked in," he said.

"That is a sign that you really need to reach out and be in touch with your friends," Marsh said.

Friends and family are the first line of defense against suicide, which is why it is important not to ignore depression or talk of suicide, he said.

Being there is of utmost importance to a suicidal person, who is often down because they are experiencing a loss, Marsh said. Listening, or simply paying attention can alert you to a friend's problem in time to avoid a tragedy.

UAPD is continuing its investigation into Whaley's apparent suicide.