2008 Woodie Awards
A Message from the Goucher College Health Center
Information provided by Jeannine Reed
Issue date: 4/7/04 Section: Remembering Tom Turner
After nearly a month of grieving, many of us are still asking "why?" and wondering what would have made Tom Turner choose to live. Why a person chooses to kill himself or herself is as troubling and frightening as the act itself. We are told that many people who commit suicide have abnormally low seratonin levels; that 50% of people who voluntarily end their lives are depressed; that depression alone or in combination with aggressive behavior and or alcohol/substance abuse or anxiety is found in one-half of all people who kill themselves.
At the end of the day, however, a person who commits suicide is feeling more pain than he or she has coping mechanisms to deal with the pain. Each of us has a personal threshold for pain, as well as a personal set of coping mechanisms. As in a math equation, there are two ways to tip the balance toward life; reduce the pain or increase the coping mechanisms.
If you or a friend are using alcohol or drugs to decrease the pain, understand that what you are doing is risky and look for help in more appropriate ways. Please seek out the caring professional counselors for yourself or for a friend in need.
This is a sad time for us as a community, and we will feel a deep loss. The sadness is worse knowing that the suicide victim ultimately loses; the act is committed to relieve the feeling of pain, but there is no feeling at all in death.
Resources for Goucher Students
Student Health & Counseling Services
Public Safety staff (410) 337-6111 (any time)
Other resources in the our area include:
The Community Hotline at (410) 931-2214 (any time)
A 24-hour hotline, which can also provide referrals to appropriate sources of help off-campus
Grassroots Crisis at (410) 531-6677 (any time)
Internet sites that may be helpful:
At the end of the day, however, a person who commits suicide is feeling more pain than he or she has coping mechanisms to deal with the pain. Each of us has a personal threshold for pain, as well as a personal set of coping mechanisms. As in a math equation, there are two ways to tip the balance toward life; reduce the pain or increase the coping mechanisms.
If you or a friend are using alcohol or drugs to decrease the pain, understand that what you are doing is risky and look for help in more appropriate ways. Please seek out the caring professional counselors for yourself or for a friend in need.
This is a sad time for us as a community, and we will feel a deep loss. The sadness is worse knowing that the suicide victim ultimately loses; the act is committed to relieve the feeling of pain, but there is no feeling at all in death.
Student Health & Counseling Services
- Monday - Friday 9am to 5 pm
- Walk-in Monday-Friday from 1-2 pm
Public Safety staff (410) 337-6111 (any time)
Other resources in the our area include:
The Community Hotline at (410) 931-2214 (any time)
A 24-hour hotline, which can also provide referrals to appropriate sources of help off-campus
Grassroots Crisis at (410) 531-6677 (any time)
Internet sites that may be helpful: