For some students, mental illness can lead to suicide, with devastating
consequences for families, friends, and entire communities. We did
not find any evidence that the stress experienced by students in colleges
and universities puts them at any higher risk for suicide than others in their
age group.11 However, we do believe that the University and all members
of our community must do all we can to reduce the risk of suicide,
even if the complete elimination of that risk is not possible. As we found,
Penn has multiple resources and programs that are already being brought
to bear in this undertaking. To complement those efforts, all members of
the University community can help by conveying constructive messages
about managing the often conflicting demands of life and work both in
school and thereafter.