Another suicide at WPI, but what’s causing them

WORCESTER, Mass. — Worcester Polytechnic Institute students, parents, and faculty got another email Tuesday confirming two more recent student deaths, one of which was a suicide.

“It’s pretty upsetting to see another email,” said junior Ashleigh Matsis.

“The COVID situation we know has brought these kinds of thoughts to about 25% of our young people. It’s a particular sort of pandemic within the pandemic,” said Nick Covino President, William James College, and clinical psychologist.

Sadly, those were the fifth and sixth WPI student deaths since July. Three of which are confirmed suicides.

Dr. Covino says people are more prone to take their lives when they feel socially isolated and disconnected and especially prone when they have periods of insomnia.

“To those struggling, first of all, the people on your campus love you. They value you they’re interested in you. They want to be helpful to you from the top down. Understand that what you feel at the moment, you may feel differently about tomorrow. We also want to talk with folks about the level of stress that people are in,” he said. “So I tell faculty members for example take a minute and ask your students how they’re doing. Take a minute and don’t be worried about the syllabus.”

Part of the President’s message read “…we can connect with one another and support one another. Let’s not let COVID take that away from us.”

The students agree.

“It’s ok to ask for help it doesn’t show your weak,” said WPI junior Tatyana Barthold. “It actually shows your strong. Knowing that there’s a problem and that you need assistance and we are trying as a community to provide assistance. If it’s not enough we will try to find a way to make it enough for you.”

In the other 3 deaths, one remains under investigation, another resulted from an epileptic seizure, and the school says it cannot provide details on the final one. WPI has partnered with some local trauma centers to provide the students and staff with additional help.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255.

Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.

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