Dr. Adams
08-24-2008, 09:19 AM
"...6% of undergraduates and 4% of graduate students seriously considered suicide during the previous year...more than 50% of the students reported that they had thought about suicide at some point in their lives; 15% had seriously considered attempting it, and more than 5% had made an attempt.
Of those who reported suicidal thoughts, most described the episode as intense and brief. For more than half of them, the episode lasted no more than a day.
...more than half of the students who experienced a recent suicidal crisis did not seek help or tell anyone about their thoughts.
Reasons for considering suicide did not differ between undergraduate and graduate students.
Main Reasons for Contemplating Suicide Cited by College Students Reason Undergraduates (%) Graduate Students (%)
Wanting relief from emotional or physical pain 65 65
Problems with romantic relationships 59 53
Desire to end life 49 47
Problems with school 43 45
Of those who attempted suicide, 19% of undergraduates and 28% of graduate students required medical attention. Half of the students had tried to kill themselves by a drug overdose.
Among the students who were free of suicidal thoughts, many would have experienced similar traumatic events or similar types of mental health disorders such as depression.
The more we give people opportunities for involvement and inclusion and the more we understand how to make that an engaging and welcoming environment, the better we'll be at helping people protect themselves from suicide.
The survey also found that, of the students who reported having suicidal thoughts in the past year, two-thirds had repeated thoughts — a rate of recurrence that is similar to that for substance abuse, depression, and eating disorders.
With growing levels of distress among college students and diminished resources, suicide prevention needs broader involvement from campus administrators, student leaders, faculty, parents, and counselors, rather than just the suicidal student and the few mental health professionals that are available."
American Psychological Association 116th Annual Convention: Session 4162. Presented August 17, 2008.
Of those who reported suicidal thoughts, most described the episode as intense and brief. For more than half of them, the episode lasted no more than a day.
...more than half of the students who experienced a recent suicidal crisis did not seek help or tell anyone about their thoughts.
Reasons for considering suicide did not differ between undergraduate and graduate students.
Main Reasons for Contemplating Suicide Cited by College Students Reason Undergraduates (%) Graduate Students (%)
Wanting relief from emotional or physical pain 65 65
Problems with romantic relationships 59 53
Desire to end life 49 47
Problems with school 43 45
Of those who attempted suicide, 19% of undergraduates and 28% of graduate students required medical attention. Half of the students had tried to kill themselves by a drug overdose.
Among the students who were free of suicidal thoughts, many would have experienced similar traumatic events or similar types of mental health disorders such as depression.
The more we give people opportunities for involvement and inclusion and the more we understand how to make that an engaging and welcoming environment, the better we'll be at helping people protect themselves from suicide.
The survey also found that, of the students who reported having suicidal thoughts in the past year, two-thirds had repeated thoughts — a rate of recurrence that is similar to that for substance abuse, depression, and eating disorders.
With growing levels of distress among college students and diminished resources, suicide prevention needs broader involvement from campus administrators, student leaders, faculty, parents, and counselors, rather than just the suicidal student and the few mental health professionals that are available."
American Psychological Association 116th Annual Convention: Session 4162. Presented August 17, 2008.