NYU Still Buzzing About Film Student's Suicide

Reports allege that NYU film student Joann Leavy had an argument with her father about taking medication right before leaping to her death from the Tisch School of Arts building. Many of Leavy's classmates recall that an early film of Leavy's involved a character's suicide; they also noted that Leavy was very talented but her behavior had been erratic lately. One of the saddest statements is from the super at Leavy's building, who saw her run out on her way to Tisch where she jumped; John Lemieszewki said, "I wish I had known she was having problems. I would have tackled her to the floor and called an ambulance. I would have restrained her until help arrived."

Still, the NYU community does wonder if there's a bigger issue. NYU students, for their part, seem sad yet philosophical about the suicides. One student told Newsday, "You have 27,000 students. Six is not that big of a number; it's not surprising when you look at the numbers." Another told the Post, "I don't really think it has anything to do with NYU. It's kids' problems, not NYU."

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By Jen Chung in News on September 8, 2004 8:13 AM

Comments [rss]

Lily

It seems like people are implying that suicides have happened in the past but were hushed up. There is something really unnerving about that... and yet there is also a lot of talk about this idea that reporting suicides perpetuates them. That is also really disturbing. Has the number of suicides gone up because of the news coverage? (it is difficult to gather any idea because the previous numbers are unreported) Should we just stop thinking about this and try to forget about it?

Lily

It seems like people are implying that suicides have happened in the past but were hushed up. There is something really unnerving about that... and yet there is also a lot of talk about this idea that reporting suicides perpetuates them. That is also really disturbing. Has the number of suicides gone up because of the news coverage? (it is difficult to gather any idea because the previous numbers are unreported) Should we just stop thinking about this and try to forget about it?

Dunlop

Apparently world suicide prevention day is this Friday I'm not sure how you celibate that day. Maybe it should be an awareness day because this posted feels that it suicide prevention should be done every day.

bbc news has some charts about national suicide rates with Lithuania taking first place. Also they state that more people are killed by suicide than war.

S.D.

Anyone know the student population size at NYU?

While these are all individual incidents, maybe it's not Abnormal statisticly. In any case, my prayers go out to the victim and her Family.

On a slightly different vein, The victim's Family is experiencing so many conflicting things: Hurt & Loss, Anger & resentment, Guilt & regret, and total confusion. It All hit's you at the same time. I really hope they are getting the support and help that they need.

Greg

I thought typical suicide rates were like 16 per 100,000 or something like that, with very little variation. So, the translation into a rate of 20 per 100,000 would be considered significant.

cc

The University of Texas has 50,000 undergrads alone. I never heard of one suicide in the 4 years I was there. (Although they did happen back when the tower was open.) But nowhere near the consistency of NYU.

S.D.

I wonder how many Suicides per year happen with CUNY? It's not like CUNY has a big dorm that makes headline news everytime someone dies there.

Lauren

um, I think it definitely has something to do with NYU. in the four years I was there, we averaged one suicide by tossing one's self out of a building a year (and there most likely other suicides that didn't get reported because they weren't quite so public). and, in the year after I graduated, a Dean decided to take a flying leap as well. usually NYU was really good about covering this stuff up, but now it's getting national news coverage...hmmm....

Jack

Old article about how the reporting of suicides in the press leads to more suicides.

http://www.presscouncil.org.au/pcsite/apcnews/may96/suicide.html

Also, Malcom Gladwell's popular book, "The Tipping Point" has a nice little chapter about it as well.

I agree that the press should include phone numbers for counseling centers in their articles about suicide. Why just write depressing stories and offer no hope? Makes me want to... nevermind.