Covering the business of education and training

Stanford University lost a 23-year old female Chinese student to an apparent suicide...the second one in a month and the fifth in 18 months.

She was an overachiever that took her own life for unknown reasons....stress from studies, school bills, love life or lack of.

Suicide is the number two cause of death among Asian-American women in their early 20s.

Sometimes there are signs:

1. Joking about suicide - it's not funny

2. Giving away personal thinks for no apparent reason -

3. Noticeable physical or psychological changes

4. Uncharacteristic withdrawal from friends and loved ones.

What you can do:

1. Take it seriously

2. Be willing to listen

3. Seek professional help

4. Take your friend/loved one to an emergency room if you come upon an attempt

This little girl, by age, fits right between my two boys, 21 and 24. It hurts that she had such a bright future, was so capable, but could not handle 'life.'

The best thing for preventing suicide is to be sure that those around you feel loved...and you, too...have someone loving you.

I hope the family and friends of this young lady are able to cope, and that they have friends to console and lift them up.