Two Harvard juniors and a third Harvard-affiliated individual attempted to commit suicide within the three days preceding Thanksgiving vacation, according to Harvard police reports.

The two undergraduates, a male from Cabot House and a female from Lowell House, were taken to Mt. Auburn Hospital for medical treatment, said Gerald R. Reardon, deputy chief of the Cambridge Fire Department.

But Cabot House Senior Tutor Julian P. Chang '86 and Lowell House Master William H. Bossert '59 said neither student sustained serious medical injuries.

According to the police, the Cabot incident was reported at 8:36 a.m. on November 21, and the Lowell occurrence was reported at 10:01 p.m. on November 22.

The third incident occurred at 5:41 p.m. on November 24 on Banks St., but no further information was available.

A roommate of the Cabot House student who attempted suicide said he felt the situation had returned to normal.

"The person is okay now. Everything is back to normal," he said. "It was emotional, not related to classes."

The attempts raise an issue not often discussed openly in the Harvard community. On average, one or two Harvard students commit suicide per year, said Dr. Randolph Catlin, chief of mental health services at UHS, although the number is "very variable."

The holiday season is a particularly difficult time for students because of increased workloads and sometimes because of worries about returning to their homes, Catlin said.

"Some students may be concerned about going home into family situations that make them feel over- whelmed," Catlin said. "Often, suicide seemslike a way to escape."

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III saidUniversity policy treats suicide attempts on anindividual basis and emphasizes psychologicalcounseling seling for recovery.

"The response is an individual one, using theagencies at the College, including [UniversityHealth Services (UHS)] and Bureau of StudyCounsel," Epps said.

Epps said student suicide attempts are notcaused by a lack of information on the part of theUniversity, and that students who do try to killthemselves usually recover from the emotionalproblems that made them consider suicide as anoption.

"Every attempt is made to inform students ofthe resources available through publicity,orientation meetings and peer counseling groups,"Epps said. "On the whole, students [who haveattempted suicide] have been able to rebound."

The most important treatment for those who haveattempted suicide is to offer a them supportiverelationships, Catlin said. "The one thing thatseems to be really therapeutic is their getting toknow that someone cares."

Catlin said for that reason, friends ofindividuals who may be suicidal should considerwhether alerting professionals of the problem willcompromise the relationship.