Fort Hays State University - Reveille Yearbook (Hays, KS)

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by Kathy Doherty During the 1977 spring semester, a Wiest Hall resident died tragically in his room, the victim of an apparent suicide. The campus and the community were shocked. Each year an estimated 200.000 people attempt to kill themselves and official reports show that at least 25,000 succeed. According to author-psychologist James C. Coleman, every twenty minutes someone in the United States kills himself. Suicide ranks seventh in causes of death in the United Stales, and among the first ten causes of death in the industrialized world, Coleman added. Statistics show that 1 0,000 students in the U S. attempt suicide each year and over 1 .000 succeed. The incidence of suicide is twice as high among college students as it is among young people of the same age group who are not in college. Suicide appears to be a problem in the Ellis County community as well, according to statistics provided by Analee Robinson, research psychologist for the High Plains Mental Health Clinic. When asked if suicide, or attempts, were a big problem in Hays. Robinson responded that “even one person is a big problem. Robinson went on to say that “episodes of care for severe psychotic depression number approximately one- tenth of the total number of cases handled by the clinic. Since many of these individuals entertain thoughts of ‘doing away with themselves. - suicide is definitely a problem that concerns the Hays area.” The causes of suicide are as numerous as its victims. Although an apparently trivial event may trigger the action, in most cases, there is usually a build up of frustrations and tension prior to the suicide attempt. Coleman categorizes these stress factors into three broad areas: interpersonal crises, failure and self- devaluation. loss of meaning and hope. Of these three, the loss of meaning and hope seems to be predominant. As long as an individual feels that his life has meaning, and that there is still a possibility that this present situation will change, he will refrain from destroying himself. Although the incidences of successful suicides at FHS are rare, Dr Bill Jellison. Dean of Students, states that FHS does have several suicide attempts each year. In most instances, these attempts are not meant to be fatal — thev are merely a cry for help. It is for these reasons that the Mental Health Clinic and The House have established 24-hour emergency services. By contacting either place, anytime of the night or day, arrangements can be made for assistance with any kind of problem. Suicide prevention centers can be found in almost any sizeable city in the United States and in Europe. The success of these centers depends largely on the willingness of the “would-be-victims to seek help. It is important that society accepts the fact that suicide is not a sin, a crime or a symptom of mental illness — it is a human act of desperation and a sign of acute personal anguish,” Coleman said, Every individual faces a crisis at some time in his life. Problems are the essence of living — how we solve them becomes an integral part of our personality. When those problems become so overwhelming that we cannot cope with them, assistance is the answer — not self-destruction.

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by J im Woody People need other people. And that is the fundamental assumption which generates actions and activities of The House, a crisis intervention center located at 321 W. Eighth St. in Hays. Everyone has experienced a situation that requires the help of another individual. For these situations people usually turn to their friend s. But sometimes the problem is something that cannot be discussed with friends. That ' s where The House comes in. Any time of the day or night, all a troubled individual needs to do is visit or cal! The House and ask for help. Prob- lems dealing with drugs, venereal disease, homosexuality, problem pregnancies, marital and family conflicts, loneliness, alcoholic abuse, emotional depression, school frustrations, boy-girl relationships and suicide are all discussed. With the aid of the counselor, the individual who needs help will attempt to find his own solution and be better pre- pared to face and conquer other problems which may arise in the future. in 1971 , a Fort Hays State psychology graduate student, Steve Shipley, recognized the need for a drug counseling service in Hays. From his idea The House was formed. Since then The House has moved from its original location on Sixth Street to the present location and has expanded services offered. Originally, The House was associated mainly with Fort Hays State, but recently people from the Hays area have been taking advantage of the many services The House offers, in the last quarterly report to The House’s board of directors, statistics showed that of the 1 72 people who con- tacted the center, under half were students. The House receives all its financial aid from the Ellis County United Fund and private donations, and charges nothing for the services it offers. There are two paid staff pos- itions, the director and assistant director. All other staff posi- tions are filled by volunteers, comprised of students and other people from the community. When a person contacts The House, the staff member on duty finds out the nature of the problem, then together they work at identifying the problem ' s source and discuss possible solutions. The counselor does not tell the troubled person what to do, but rather points out possible alternatives and tries to answer any questions asked. Many times The House simply acts as a referral agency. People may ask where to get legal advice or how to obtain birth control pills or whatever and the staff tells people where As of June 11.1977 The House is at a different location — 209 E Fourth St. They were asked to move from this house by the owner who decided to build a car wash in its place to go or who to contact for the various information and ser- vices. One recent service undertaken by The House is admin- istering high school diploma equivalency tests. The local school system was overburdened with other projects, so The House took on the responsibility of this program. One of the main services offered at the center since the time it began is drug counseling. Staff members are able to identify the drugs and explain the consequences of taking various drugs. All business between The House and the pub- lic is strictly confidential. The staff does not pass judgement or condemn anyone but will help any person who wants help. Last year nearly 1 ,100 people contacted The House. Of those, the largest age group represented was between 19 and 26 years of age. The misconception exists that only stu- dents and other young people contact The House, but statis- tics show the second largest age group using The House’s services is between 26 and 40 years of age. Certain times of the year bring a rise in the number of contacts. The fall quarter is the busiest time of the year for The House staff. The reason for this business can be attributed to the return of students to school. Freshmen fre- quently undergo a difficult adjustment period during their first year in college. This time sometimes requires counseling to just get through. Since many of the staff have had the same experience, troubled students can relate easily to them. Anyone passing through Hays needing to spend the night but unable to afford a motel, can always go to The House. Several beds are available, and like all other services offered, lodging is also free. Family counseling is another service that many people use. Conflicts between parents and children, husband and wife or siblings are all discussed. By bringing out problems openly with the aid of the counselor, possible solutions are frequently worked out. There has long been, in this country, a stigma attached to persons who seek psychiatric help. The House offers a unique and valuable service to persons who don ' t feel the need for extensive psychiatric aid, but are troubled about some aspect of life. They can come and go as they please without fear of others placing the stamp of social undesira- bility on them. The House is a non-profit corporation that continues to expand its services year after year for the sole purpose of serving FHS students and Hays area citizens. At any time and for anyone in distress, help is just a phone call away. The House 25

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road leading nowhere