Stories of Survival: The Paradox of Suicide Vulnerability and Resiliency among Asian American College Students

College suicides are a growing social problem in the United States. Suicide is the second leading cause of death on university campuses and more than half of all college students report experiencing some level of suicide ideation in their lifetime. Asian American students are particularly vulnerable to suicide ideation, yet these students also show strong resiliency, leading to lower rates of suicide deaths than their peers. Stories of Survival explores the paradox of suicide vulnerability and resiliency among Asian American college students using one-on-one interviews collected during the global pandemic. This narrative research uses a strength-based approach to understand how Asian American college students live with their suicidal tendencies. It offers a deeply felt examination of the history of mental health challenges that the Asian American undergraduate population face—from intergenerational trauma to racial microaggressions—and the coping strategies, protective factors, and life skills these students build to develop resiliency and well-being. Finally, Stories of Survival ends with practical recommendations and a call to action for colleges and universities to address this important and urgent mental health crisis. Stories of Survival shines a critical light on a frequently overlooked population in mental health research and the ways we can improve resiliency among our most vulnerable communities.