INTRO: Februrary 13th, 2001: A student at the University of Illinois was found by his

roommate in their apartment at 3:30 am with multiple self-inflicted stab wounds. The
knife was 4-5 inches in the chest and the student had also slit his wrists. This was just one
of the 140 suicide incidents reported in the 2000-2001 academic year. The University of
Illinois should implement a mandatory video and facilitation session to promote suicide
awareness. In this speech, I will give you insight of how this problem is urgent, how this
policy is the best solution, and that the benefits of this policy outweigh the costs.
Transition: First of all…
I. Depression and Suicide awareness demands our immediate attention
a. As you may recall from my last speech, According to the American
Psychiatric Association, one out of four college students will experience
an episode of depression before we graduate.
i. That could mean if there are 25 students in this class, 6 of us could
be diagnosed with depression.
b. If left untreated, depression can lead to suicide.
i. Social Work Today, the leading social work magazine states that
suicide is one of the leading causes of death among college
students.
1. The most common reasons college students attempt suicide
are because of academic pressure and relationship problems
with family, friends, and significant others.
c. In the academic year of 2000-2001, Paul Joffe, a suicide expert at the
counseling center stated there were 140 suicide incident reports filed at the
University of Illinois.
i. That number has remained steady every year.

Transition: Next, I will discuss the new policy in greater detail.

II. Implementing a mandatory video and facilitation session to increase suicide
awareness is the best solution.
a. This is how the policy would work
i. Similar to the alcohol prevention program that we had to attend
freshman year, this video on suicide awareness would be
mandatory for all incoming University of Illinois students.
ii. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has created a
list of recommended video/facilitation sessions.
 1. One in particular is titled, “The Truth about Suicide,”
i. This video is designed for a college age
audience
ii. Within this video, student will learn the signs of
depression and suicide
iii. Students will learn the myths of suicide
iv. Students will get the necessary information and
emergency contact information, such as a crisis
line or hospitals.
b. This policy would help bring awareness to the issues of suicide.
i. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health in 2004, 60
percent of students report that they would turn to a friend at school
rather than a parent or counseling center when dealing with a
serious emotional problem.
1. In addition, 75 percent of all suicides give some warning of
their intention to a friend or family member before
committing the act.
ii. Chances are, everyone in the room knows someone who has
suffered with depression or knows someone who has tried to
commit suicide.
1. When students and friends are able to recognize the signs
for help, they will be able to talk to the student, and
Resident Advisor or call the counseling center and know
the appropriate measures to take.

Transition: Finally…

III. The disadvantages do not outweigh the advantages

i. There are some people who are going to believe that this program
in not needed, as depression or suicide will not happen to them.
1. This video facilitation session would not only be centered
on you, but it more so centered on others around you
(friends, family members, classmates). This is different
from ACE-It programs or FYI care offered here at the
University of Illinois.
 ii. There is also a chance that many believe the program could be
made fun of or mocked, like we often do with ACE it and FYI
care.
i. What is needed is a charismatic speaker or
facilitator after the movie that has had
experience dealing with depression and suicide.
ii. Also, this video and facilitation session will not
be students acting in a play. They are real life
stories of depression and suicide.

Transition: In Conclusion…

Conclusion: The University of Illinois should implement a mandatory video and

facilitation session to promote suicide awareness. Today I have explained that
Depression and suicide needs our immediate attention. I have explained that a policy
should be implemented and this policy has advantages that far outweigh the
disadvantages. So I will leave you with this question: Do you know what to do if your
friend is talking about suicide?