Parents of Suicidal College Students: What Deans, Judges, and Legislators Should Know About Campus Research Findings

When suicidal behavior is reported, student affairs officers on many campuses notify parents as one component of a multifaceted campus suicide prevention plan. In response to proposals to mandate parent notification, the author argues that practical considerations warrant against expanding state laws to require notification following campus suicide attempts. The recent experience with parent notice at one university confirms the work of earlier researchers who concluded that parents rarely withdraw suicidal students from enrollment. Although a policy of sending the letters may deter further episodes of self-destructive behavior, parents once alerted to the situation are not likely to intervene in a manner that will reduce significantly the risk of suicide.