An Analysis Of Suicide On Campus And The Pressure Of Perfection By Julie Scelfo

Stress Induced Suicide
Julie Scelfo’s “Suicide on Campus and the Pressure of Perfection” first appeared in The New York Times magazine on July 27, 2015. Scelfo discusses the pressure that family, society, and the individual places on themselves to be perfect. This stress ultimately results in college- age students taking their own lives. “Nationally, the suicide rate among 15- to 24-year-olds has increased modestly but steadily since 2007: from 9.6 deaths per 100,000 to 11.1 in 2013.” Scelfo uses an anecdote, statistics, and expert’s observations to successfully portray her stance on this issue.
Appealing to the reader’s emotions through stories is a commonly used technique, and Scelfo uses it beautifully. She starts the article out by introducing the reader to a young girl named Kathryn Dewitt. Whether they mean to or not, the reader develops some kind of emotional connection to this young girl. They feel as if they are a part of the story, for when something goes well, the reader feels good and vice versa. The negative feelings begin when the author says, “But having gained admittance off the wait list and surrounded by people

She writes, “But a survey of college counseling centers has found that more than half of their clients have severe psychological problems…” Sentences like this catch the reader off guard, and as a result, open their eyes to the problem at hand. Providing more data reinforces the author’s perspective, so Scelfo goes on to say, “Anxiety and depression, in that order, are now the most common mental health diagnoses among college students, according to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health at Penn State.” By this point in the article, the reader has seen the emotional aspect of the ‘stress induced suicide.’ Using shocking facts not only makes the reader stop and think, but it also shows the logical reasoning behind this