John S. Westefeld

College and University Student Suicide Trends and Implications

Suicide among college and university students is unquestionably an important issue on the nations college campuses. This is true not only because of the frequency of suicidal attempts/completions, but also because of the severe trauma often precipitated by suicide. Although there are numerous writings discussing the general phenomenon of suicide -and in particular child and adolescent suicide -less has been written concerning suicidal trends specifically among college students. Thus the purpose of this article will be to summarize the prominent literature in the area of college student suicide, provide a critical review, identify relevant themes, and discuss future directions.

On and Off the Field

Abstract The involvement of high school students in interscholastic sports has been linked to many positive outcomes, including grades, school attendance, persistence to graduation, positive self concept, and emotional well-being (Lopez & Moore, 2006; Donaldson & Ronan, 2006). Playing sports is also associated with several social values, such as loyalty, dedication, sacrifice, and responsibility (Lumpkin, 2002). However, with more pressure to specialize in a sport at an earlier age, and with year-round access to private coaching and pre-college scouting, the pressures on high school athletes—particularly those with high ability—may be mounting, leaving them vulnerable. The relationship between that student athlete and the high school coach is therefore essential to the students success. This study examines that relationship and other aspects of coaching high-ability athletes.Using a qualitative method, we identified, in a purposive sample drawn from a Midwestern state and using snowball sampling techniques, male and female coaches who exemplified the most highly successful coaches in high school sports. We completed extensive, in-depth interviews with eleven coaches—a sample that was diverse based on the type of sport coached, size of school, and balance of male/female sport and coaches.The data clustered in six thematic categories, including the components of effective coaching, pressures on athletes, the gifted vs. the spoiled athlete, gender differences in sport, how coaching has changed, and the role of parents in the lives of high school athletes. Implications for those involved in athletics, especially sports educators, are discussed.

Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology: A Seminar Model

A brief description is provided of how a list of questions about professional issues in counseling psychology is used as an adjunct to a seminar taught at Auburn University. Rationale for a seminar in professional issues is given. Four representative questions for each of several topical areas are listed.