The Warning Signs

Catlin says giving away possessions and changing sleeping and eating habits may be signs of depression.

"Usually [depressed students] find they don't have an appetite," Catlin says. "They have sleeping disturbances--they have difficulty going to sleep or they wake up very early."

William says that before attempting suicide he began to lose interest in life, sleep excessively and ignore schoolwork.

House tutors become concerned about a student when he or she disappears from house activities, exhibits erratic sleeping habits and appears lethargic, says Chang.

Recovery

Since the majority of suicide attempts at Harvard are unsuccessful, a key issue for the University to face is how to help students recover.

"The response is an individual one, using the agencies at the College, including [UHS] and the Bureau of Study Counsel," Epps said in December.

And most students who attempt suicide do rebound, Catlin says.

"Once they do get a handle on [their life], they do fully recover. They realize that one can survive what seems like a terrible loss or catastrophe," Catlin says. "Depression is a very treatable disorder."

William says suicidal students can bounce back, as long as they make an effort to do so. For him, this involved quitting drugs and receiving psychotherapy.

"It does get better. It got better for me," he says. "It's not easy, it could be the hardest thing you ever go through, but it does get better. Don't let it beat you. There are very few things in this world that are worth it."

John M. Wagley contributed to the reporting of this article.

*At their request, some students have been given pseudonyms to protect their identites. These students are identified by a first name only.