Help seeking and mental health service utilization among college students with a history of suicide ideation

Psychiatr Serv. 2011 Dec;62(12):1510-3. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.005562010.

Abstract

Objective: This study examined help seeking among 158 college students with a lifetime history of suicide ideation.

Methods: Students were interviewed about episodes of psychological distress, formal treatment, and informal help seeking during adolescence and college.

Results: Of the 151 students reporting any lifetime episodes of distress, 62% experienced the first episode in adolescence, and 54% had episodes in both adolescence and young adulthood. Overall, 87% received informal help, 73% received formal treatment, and 61% received both. Among the 149 who ever sought help or treatment, the most commonly reported sources of help were family (65%), friends (54%), psychiatrists (38%), and psychologists (33%). Of the 94 individuals who experienced suicide ideation in college, 44% did not seek treatment during young adulthood. Treatment barriers reflected ambivalence about treatment need or effectiveness, stigma, and financial concerns.

Conclusions: Most students had some contact with treatment, but family and friends might be important gatekeepers for facilitating treatment access.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Depression / psychology
  • Family
  • Female
  • Friends
  • Health Services Needs and Demand*
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Male
  • Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Students / psychology*
  • Suicidal Ideation*
  • Universities*
  • Young Adult