How a New England college weathered a spate of suicides

In a dark time, faculty and staff members became first-line responders.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 20, 2024 In the aftermath of campus suicides, faculty and staff members at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts joined an emergency task force to determine the causes of student distress. Many became unofficial counselors, overwhelmed by students' need for a sympathetic ear. Brian Ulrich for The New York Times Then a fourth student died by suicide. "What are we doing wrong?" a school dean wondered. → Sign up for The New York Times Magazine newsletter. Get the best of each issue with cover stories, long reads and columns like Talk, Diagnosis and Eat. Get it in your inbox Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this message because you signed up for updates from The New York Times. To stop receiving From The Times, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018