Yang

He was a warm-hearted person who cared deeply for those close to him and was always ready to lend a helping hand. But the only person the likeable 26-year-old graduate student from China couldn’t help, apparently, was himself.

Last Tuesday, friends were shocked to learn that Mingxuan “Alex” Yang, a graduate business student, had committed suicide on the Interstate in a particularly public way.  It was one day before the start of the spring semester.

“When we first heard the news, we thought it was a joke. It was hard to believe,” said a close friend of Yang, a Chinese student who asked to remain anonymous. “We didn’t believe it until we heard it from the police.”

On Thursday, ESU President Michael Shonrock said in a prepared statement that the university was “deeply saddened” by Yang’s death.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,” Shonrock said.

Yang had rented a Chrysler 200 from a local rental car agency last Tuesday and, about 4 p.m., called the Emporia Police Department on his cell phone to report an accident on Interstate 35. Moments later, he shot himself in the head, wrecking the car beneath the Prairie Street overpass, according to Emporia Chief of Police Gary Smith.

“He planned it ahead,” Smith said. “We know it was him because he had a script in the car that was basically what he had read off of (to police).”

Smith declined to identify the type or caliber of firearm Yang used, or say where he obtained it. That aspect of Yang’s death is still under investigation, Smith said.

Yang was from Dalian, Liaoning Province, according to ESU Media Relations. He had graduated from Dalian University of Technology before beginning studies at the University of North Texas in Denton. Yang transferred to ESU in the Spring 2010 semester and was working toward his master’s of business administration.

Friends said they never saw any indication in Yang’s behavior that he was planning to commit suicide. Instead, they described him as a happy person, even an optimist.

“He always looked so joyful and always had a smile on his face that never went away,” said another close friend, another Chinese student who also asked to remain anonymous.

Friends said Yang was the kind of person who preferred to take care of others but seldom asked for help for himself. He even taught many fellow international students how to drive.

Jack Daniels was his drink of choice and he enjoyed seafood, especially lobster, and homemade ribs, but he hated anything spicy.

Friends remembered him as Christian who loved films, particularly the “Harry Potter” series.

“He loved going to movies and may have seen two or three movies at a time,” a friend said.

One friend compared him to Peter Pan because, despite being a “big brother” figure to many of his friends, he was a kid at heart.

Still, those close to him are trying to make sense of his sudden death.

“Unbearable psychological pain is the common element of suicide,” said Jaqueline Schmidt, director of Student Wellness. “People consider killing themselves when they lose hope of finding another way to stop the pain.”

Schmidt encourages anyone who suspects a loved one could be considering suicide to speak up and voice their concerns.

“Whether or not you know how to fix the problem, genuine concern can provide a human connection at a critical moment,” Schmidt said. “The two factors that contribute most to preventing suicide are that a concerned person is available and intervenes and the individual shows a willingness to talk about it openly and frankly.”

Friends say they regret not having known about Yang’s internal struggle, but that they are comforted because his memory lives on.

“We don’t think (of him as) dead – he’s still with us.”

Kenzie Templeton

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALI NASHATIZADEH & KELLEN JENKINS

When Meghan Roe was in the seventh grade, her grandfather attempted to take his own life.

“He had just lost his wife and had a really hard time moving on,” Roe, a senior psychology major, said. “He takes heart medication and lots of other medication as well, and he decided to take them all and then drink an entire bottle of whiskey. Then he called our home to tell us goodbye.”

Roe said that authorities were quick to respond to the scene.

“My mom answered the phone and rushed over to his house,” Roe said. “On her way, she called the police, who were already taking him into custody when she arrived.”

Roe said that her grandfather left a note on his garage indicating where his body could be found. Much to Roe’s relief, however, her grandfather survived.

“To this day, the doctor still can’t believe that the police were able to find him alive,” Roe said.

Thousands of others who attempt suicide each year do not share the same fate.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, over 32,000 people in the United States commit suicide every year. It is the 11th overall leading cause of death in the U.S., and the fourth leading cause of death for U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 65.

Approximately 13 out of every 100,000 Kansas citizens die by suicide each year.

According to Bill Persinger, executive director of the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas, the relationship between suicide deaths and time of year remains uncertain.

“The research is somewhat divided on which time of year poses the highest risk… we tend to focus on the winter holidays as a time prone to increased stress, particularly emotional distress,” Persinger said. “The winter holidays are also considered a time for giving to others, which increases our awareness of financial stress, job loss and a struggling economy.”

However, the arrival of spring often presents unique troubles of its own.

“The spring season poses significant challenges for individuals who have lost loved ones or are without social connections,” Persinger said. “Spring also brings warmer weather and a flurry of activities outdoors, which can be daunting for those struggling with chronic illness or immobility.”

Pamelyn MacDonald, associate professor of psychology, pointed to increased energy levels as a possible cause for springtime suicides.

“Someone who is deeply depressed lacks the energy to plan and follow through with a suicide attempt,” MacDonald said. “Once a depressed person starts to come out of his or her depression a bit, they have enough energy to formulate a plan to end their life… If a person’s depression is cycling with the seasons, spring would be an obvious time for moods to improve, and energy levels to follow.”

“Any talk of suicide should be taken very seriously, no matter the season,” MacDonald added.

Though it is often difficult to predict whether an individual will attempt suicide, various factors are associated with an increased risk for suicidal behavior.

“There are many risk factors associated with suicide,” Persinger said. “These can include past suicide attempts, family history of suicide, feelings of hopelessness, mental illness, social isolation and lack of support systems.”

Other risk factors include substance abuse, unemployment or change in economic status, major life transitions and chronic illness.

Roe described the emotional turmoil she felt after her grandfather attempted suicide.

“It was very difficult to handle,” Roe said. “He and my grandmother raised me for half my life. I just lost my grandmother who was like a mom to me, and now my grandpa was falling apart as well.”

According to Persinger, individuals who suspect one of their friends may be suicidal should be supportive.

“Encourage the friend to continue reaching out to you, other friends and family, and to seek professional help quickly,” Persinger said. “Support the friend in their efforts to find help and to remain honest and open about their thoughts and feelings.”

Persinger urges individuals who are considering suicide to seek professional help.

“Seek help from a caring professional immediately,” Persinger said. “You are valuable, and your life and the meaningful contribution you make to others is worth seeking help and being helped.”

According to Persinger, anyone in immediate danger of harming him or herself should call 911. In addition, the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas offers 24 hour emergency services and can be reached at (620) 343-2626.

Roe encourages individuals with suicidal thoughts to be hopeful about the future.

“People deal with issues in so many different ways,” Roe said. “But from my personal experience with my grandpa, I think people need that one bit of hope to make it through the next hour… My grandpa still has lots of issues that he is dealing with to this day, but he held on to one thing at a time and can now say that there are some things in life that are just worth living for.”

Ali Nashatizadeh/The Bulletin

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