BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- As officials confirm a Western Washington University student found dead over the weekend took his own life, a local psychologist says it’s important to talk about suicide, even though it’s difficult.

Tewnty-year-old Charlie Hartman was reported missing late last week, and after his body was found off campus, Whatcom County Medical Examiner Dr. Gary Goldfogel ruled the death a suicide.

Bellingham psychologist Dr. Sylvia Thorpe says it’s important for people to be open about the issue.



Goldfogel reports this is the third Western student to take their own life so far this year, and Thorpe says it’s common for suicides to go in waves, sometimes in ‘copycat’ fashion.

But, she says that doesn’t mean the issue shouldn’t be talked about.

Thorpe believes the trend should not be blamed on WWU, and that it does not indicate any problem on campus.