Newly arrived Burapha student jumps 3 floors to her death

An 18-year-old woman leapt to her death at Burapha University yesterday just as her campus life was about to begin.

Thepsirin Jakkham - who had been treated for stress and depression in the past -- had just moved into a student dorm in the Mueang district when she decided to jump from the third floor of a university building at dawn.

She was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries at around 12.20pm.

Thepsirin was the daughter of Pol Lt-Colonel Prajak Jakkham, who is based in Sa Kaew.

Described as introvert

"She was described as an introvert," Sansuk Police Station superintendent Supathi Boonkrong said yesterday. "She rarely spoke to her new friends, preferring to spend time on the Internet. Other students tried to talk her out of this habit."

Supathi speculated that adjusting to a new life at university might have caused her stress.

Burapha University president Dr Suchart Upatham said Thepsirin was admitted to the university through a quota-based system and had moved into the dorm just a few days before her death.

"We don't know yet what caused her decision to commit suicide. We have been told that she has seen psychiatrists in the past," he said. He added that Thepsirin's death was likely not related to student initiation rituals, which had not yet begun.

The Office of Higher Education Commission secretary general Dr Sumeth Yamnoon has called on universities to closely monitor their students' well-being.

"Parents can help too. They should inform the universities if their child has any mental problems," he said.