TY - JOUR
T1 - Help seeking and mental health service utilization among college students with a history of suicide ideation
AU - Arria, Amelia M.
AU - Winick, Emily R.
AU - Garnier-Dykstra, Laura M.
AU - Vincent, Kathryn B.
AU - Caldeira, Kimberly M.
AU - Wilcox, Holly C.
AU - O'Grady, Kevin E.
PY - 2011/12/1
Y1 - 2011/12/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
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U2 - 10.1176/appi.ps.005562010
DO - 10.1176/appi.ps.005562010
M3 - Article
C2 - 22193801
AN - SCOPUS:84857861184
SN - 1075-2730
VL - 62
SP - 1510
EP - 1513
JO - Psychiatric Services
JF - Psychiatric Services
IS - 12
ER -