Daily Egyptian Sp03
Spring 2003
Student's suicide occurs just before prevention week
Greg Cima
Daily EgyptianAfter a brief conversation about the water bill, David Casiano said goodbye to his roommate Bryan Stuart near the front door to their house.
Stuart said the conversation was typical and it never crossed his mind something was wrong. To Stuart, Casiano looked focused, sharp and determined, but happy in an odd way. He said he looked peaceful.
"Later on," Stuart said as Casiano left.
Casiano walked out the front door of the College Street house and drove away in his red Ford Ranger. Stuart never saw him again.
Police said a turkey hunter who spotted the red pickup along Campground Road in Giant City State Park found Casiano, 25, 303 W. College St., dead the morning of April 24. Casiano reportedly died of asphyxiation after attaching a hose to his exhaust pipe and feeding it into the cab of the truck.
Sunday began national suicide prevention week, and according to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 29,000 Americans commit suicide every year. Barbara Elam, stress management coordinator for Student Health Programs, said suicide rates are increasing for college students, and said surveys indicate depression and anxiety are also up among college students in the last 10 years.
The National Center for Health Statistics also reported suicide is one of the three highest causes of death between the ages of 10 and 34 in 2000. Elam said the highest number of suicides occur in spring.
Elam said the majority of people considering ending their lives will provide indications of their intentions, but said some people are able to put forward a "good public face" and few people may able to tell something is wrong. She said one sign is talking about death or suicide, even if indirectly as if they are leaving or saying goodbye.
Other signs include depression, withdrawal from enjoyed activities, changes in eating and sleeping habits, loss of interest or pleasure, extra fatigue, inability to think clearly, senses of worthlessness or guilt, self-criticism, increased use of alcohol or drugs, agitation and a history of suicide attempts.
Stuart and Ranise Ruggeri, Casiano's girlfriend, said they did not see any indication Casiano was considering ending his life.
"I thought I would see him the next day," Stuart said. "I mean, when do you really think about that kind of stuff."
Stuart said Casiano was having problems with school, but did not think they led to his roommate's death. Ruggeri said Casiano's death has left his friends and family questioning what could have motivated him to take his own life.
Casiano was also at the apartment of his girlfriend, Ranise Ruggeri, after seeing "The String Cheese Incident" in the evening before his death. Ruggeri said the couple decided to stay in and she thought he was going for some beer when she last saw him.
"The way he looked when he left, he was smiling," Ruggeri said. "It didn't even cross my mind."
Stuart said he wished he would have stopped and talked with Casiano more the night he left, but is grateful he had a chance to say goodbye. He also said it was odd for the word "goodbye" to come from his roommate.
"He never really ever said goodbye," Stuart said. "He always said 'later.' That's what was odd about it."
Ruggeri said Casiano would always avoid altercations and would never hesitate to help anyone. She said everything he said was genuine. Stuart said Casiano would give a person the shirt off his back and was always concerned about other people's welfare above his own.
Stuart called Casiano the only genius he had ever known and he had great potential.
"Anything he touched would turn to gold, and he could do anything," Stuart said. "All he had to do was put his mind to it, and he could do it."
Casiano and Stuart would play blues, and Stuart said he was the only person Stuart could play with.
"Basically, I suck, but for some reason, he would make it sound good," Stuart said. "He was one of the only people I knew who could actually, musically, take somebody, even though they're not well off, take them to another level and make them sound better."
Stuart said Casiano always wanted to do was get a boat and travel the ocean.
"We have pictures of him when he was by the ocean and he was so happy," Stuart said. "That's what he always wanted to do was cruise around on a big sailboat, and he wanted to do that for a long time."
While he said there will not be a day he does not think of Casiano, Stuart said Casiano would not want his death to keep others down. He also said that while Casiano's life was cut short, he tasted a great deal of life and had a great deal of wisdom.
"He was like a wise old man trapped in a boy's body," Stuart said. "It was cut short, but he did live a very good and very fulfilling life and he did get to experience a lot."
Stuart said Casiano repeatedly talked of Einstein's theory that energy never stops, and he feels comforted that his energy is around him now. He said he is not able to talk with him face-to-face, but knows Casiano is still there.
"I guess that was like his heaven," Stuart said, of the theory.
Elam said students often do not want to bring up the subject of suicide with someone they are worried about. She said the biggest problem is "underreacting instead of overreacting." She said people should not try to give much advice but "just be there" and bring the person to a mental health professional.
Stuart said people should learn to always part on good terms.
"Through this experience a lot of people should realize that your actions and attitudes do have consequences and people do have feelings, and we should always keep in mind that we should be civil to each other and never leave on a bad note," Stuart said. "Part ways with anyone in good graces instead of having anger and frustration.
"Life's fragile and it could be gone in an instant."
Suicide counseling is available on campus at the Health Services Clinic and the Counseling Center in Woody Hall, as well as through the Crisis Intervention Network, a 24-hour hotline at 549-3351.
Reporter Greg Cima can be reached at gcima@dailyegyptian.com
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Last update: Tuesday, May 6, 2003 at 2:27:20 PM
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