Ann Arbor Times

March's episode of Eastern Michigan University's podcast, "Enlighten U," focuses on the experiences of international students dealing with suicidal thoughts. The episode explores themes such as community importance and feelings of isolation for students studying far from home.

Eastern Michigan University had 635 international students enrolled in the fall of 2024. Nationally, over 1.1 million international students studied in the U.S. during the 2023/24 school year, according to Open Doors Data.

Data from the University of Michigan’s Counseling and Psychological Services indicates that more than 1,000 suicides occur annually on college campuses, making suicide the second leading cause of death among college students. Approximately 25% of students know someone who has died by suicide, while 40% know someone who has attempted it.

Treasure Affia, an EMU junior from Nigeria majoring in psychology and women and gender studies, shares her personal journey as an international student grappling with passive suicidal thoughts. She recounts how changes in her living situation affected her mental health.

“I didn’t want my parents or family to believe I actively did something to myself,” Affia said. “I was just hoping I would be in a dangerous situation where something would happen to me.”

Affia highlights how finding a community at EMU helped her cope and maintain connections to her culture.

“Community was really, really important,” Affia said. “You can learn about the cultures here without detaching yourself from your own.”

Assistant professor Aesha Mustafa from EMU’s Department of Leadership and Counseling discusses why community is vital for those struggling with suicidal ideation and addresses feelings of failure associated with these thoughts.

“There’s nothing wrong with you because you have a thought of ending your life,” Mustafa said. “You’re not a failure for that.”

Affia is now vice president of EMU’s African Student Association and founder of organizations focused on suicide awareness and women's empowerment.

“It’s something I did because of how I felt,” Affia said. “Being able to help people with these organizations is really good.”

She advises other international students to engage with campus communities for support.

“Join organizations,” Affia said. “Community is very important, especially as an international student.”

For those experiencing suicidal ideation, the national suicide hotline at 988 offers free confidential support.

Future episodes will cover topics like overcoming adversity and self-care.

For more information about "Enlighten U," contact Lolita Cummings or Melissa Thrasher at Eastern Michigan University.