Andrew Williamson-Noble, 20, a Junior at New York University Commits Suicide By Leaping from 10th Floor of Bobst Library

Andrew Williamson-Noble, a New York University junior committed suicide this morning by leaping from the 10th floor of the main library. The student reportedly used an NYU-issued card to swipe himself into the Bobst Library, where he committed suicide around 4:30 a.m. One student reported hearing a "loud thud" when the student's body hit the marble floor in the atrium of the library. Police found him unconcious and unresponsive in the lobby of Bobst Library. He was then removed and taken to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, minutes after 5 a.m. The medical examiner is determining the cause of death.

This isn't the first time the Greenwich Village-based university has had to deal with such a tragedy. It has endured a rash of suicides in recent years and had installed eight-foot plexiglass walls on the floors facing the atrium in 2003 after two other students killed themselves. Many students have said in media interviews that they recently had midterm exams and they were feeling stressed out. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

NYU president John Sexton confirmed the suicide in an e-mail sent to students around lunch time. He did not identify the victim. The email read:

“The death of a College of Arts and Science junior early this morning in Bobst Library is a matter of great sorrow for the NYU community. In a close-knit community of young people such as ours, the death of a fellow student is always keenly felt. While the cause of this death is still being determined, indications are that he took his own life."

“Suicide among college age men and women is a national problem and a leading cause of death. In spite of the extensive systems NYU has in place to support the health and mental health of students - a highly-regarded 24-hour hotline called the Wellness Exchange; a model health center with doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors; constant reminders to students on the availability of help - we are not immune to this national challenge.

We have reminded all students again today of availability of counseling and other types of assistance through NYU’s Wellness Exchange at 212-443-9999 (or 999 from any campus phone), and we have reinforced that as a community we need to look out for one another and never hesitate to offer a helping hand or attentive ear.

The University has been in touch with the family to convey the condolences of the NYU community; our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and loved ones of this young man. The family has asked that it be accorded the greatest possible privacy and sensitivity in this time of mourning, and we would hope that everyone would respect its wishes.”

This latest suicide sheds light on an issue that occurs all too often on college campuses. Suicide is becoming a serious problem among college-age students. It is the third leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 24. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 86 percent of these suicides were male and 14 percent were female. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicidal thinking and behavior among college students can result from a wide variety of problems including drug and alcohol abuse, mood disorders, problems in social relationships and physical health problems. Some research has suggested that a tendency to avoid unwanted emotions and negative thoughts can contribute to the problems that lead to suicide. Even though these resources are available, many college students who die by suicide never seek help within their institutions.

Photo credit:  Andrew Williamson-Noble, Facebook