Penn Hires Permanent Counselors in Wake of Suicide

Two confirmed suicides, four deaths overall have shocked campus.

Counselors temporarily hired in the wake of a Penn student’s suicide last month are being hired on a permanent basis in the wake of a second confirmed suicide, which occurred this week. Four students have died so far this semester. The counselors will serve at Penn’s Counseling and Psychological Services.

The Daily Pennyslvanian reports:

Three new permanent clinical staff members will be hired at CAPS, effective immediately. The scheduling of current staff will also be altered to accommodate student needs. CAPS will extend its hours into the evening and will also offer weekend appointments.

“I don’t want to waste time in reaching out to students who are so saddened by this,” (Penn President Amy) Gutmann said in an interview Wednesday afternoon. “It’s really right now that we have great need and I want that need to be addressed to the best of our ability.”

This statement — which is the second this week — comes as a response to the four student deaths that have occurred over the past several weeks and the issue of mental health.

“These deaths are not connected, but raised the issue and put students under significant stress that needs to be addressed immediately,” Gutmann said.