Reacting to the suicide of someone you know in college?

[JVM1939]

Let's just say that a very good friend of your's from college, a close friend, committed suicide. Or in the case you were a professor (I don't know if there's any college professor here), one of your best students, who has excelled in every class he has taken with you, committed suicide.

How would you feel in any of these cases?

Updates

+1 y

Edit:
Plus, in the professor's case, the student that commited suicide was also your helpful assistant in one of the classes you teach

[midnightmoon05]

I never had that.
I once had some thoughts but I snapped out of it.

3 years ago, before Covid, I had a student who actually told me his plans on how to die step by step. I send him to the school counselor.

Covid happened. We were sent to remote learning.

now that he is in 3rd. They put him in meds. I tried asking his teacher … sometimes they said he has a tough time in class so he was sent to the principles office.
I just wonder what will happen to him.

[midnightmoon05]

Thank you for MHO

[jennifer_bloom]

I would be sad if somebody I was close to died but if it was a random and distant person, I would shovel it out of my concern.

[JVM1939]

If that person was one of your colsest friends?

[JVM1939]

Closest*

[jennifer_bloom]

Yeah I would be sad

[exitseven]

I had a person that worked in my department for 5 years commit suicide. She told me she was clinically depressed and was on medication. She was having marital problems and was going to get divorced but decided that they could not afford it. I knew her really well and I really took her death hard. I still think about her.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO

[Fromdusktilldawn]

Actually a few years ago at university I knew a guy I got along very well with, almost became best friends when I heard that he killed himself with a car crash. What makes it extra sad is, that he was always lonely and wanted freinds so badly was still a virgin but was cool to hang out with

[DryGermanGuy]

I walked into a college suicide scene (jumper) five minutes after it happened. I did not know the guy, but still have to think about him every now and then. Clearly, I would rather not have witnessed it.

[Guy13]

Sorry for your loss. I too would be taken back. I was a GA first and then TA. I bonded with a few students during that time. Near where I live, we had a university student crack and kill himself recently enough to feel recent..

[Agape93]

Wouldn't care as a professor. I've lost a friend to suicide, I was sad for a while but that grew to anger towards the cause of it