Over the last six months, six people associated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have died.

According to The Boston Globe, one graduate student’s death was an accident; two graduate students’ and a professor’s deaths were ruled suicides.

The causes of the two most recent deaths — the first, an undergraduate student last week and the other, a graduate student, in early September — have not been disclosed, the Globe reported.

MIT has responded to these deaths with an event entitled “All Doors Open.” Officials asked the school community in a letter to take a moment of silence on Monday at noon.

“We urge you to open your doors, literally,” the letter read. “Gather together —  or get up, walk around and engage the people nearby, those you know already and those you don’t. If you prefer, we hope you will take the time for focused private reflection.”

MIT also said the community can email thoughts or emotions to [email protected].

While it’s encouraging to hear a response from MIT, it is quite troubling that students are committing suicide.

College can be extremely stressful. I know more than one Suffolk student who has pulled more all-nighters in a semester than he or she can count on one hand. The less-than-thriving economy puts pressure on us to get internships and co-ops on top of class work. We strive for good grades and great GPAs for scholarships.

With all of this stress on our shoulders, students should know what their resources are and have a safe place to talk.

Suffolk University has a Counseling, Health, and Wellness Center located on the fifth floor of the 73 Tremont building.

On Oct. 8, the center is hosting sessions in both the Donahue and Sawyer lobbies where students can receive a free screening for depression. The center notes that one in four people can experience a depressive episode before age 24.

Let’s all make an effort to know the signs of depression and suicide and talk to our friends and colleagues. It only takes a second to ask someone how he or she is doing and having a safe place to go or someone to turn to is so important.