Depression, Desperation, and Suicidal Ideation in College Students: Results From the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention College Screening Project at Emory University

This study examined sucide ideation & depression in undergraduates at Emory University. 729 students participated over a 3-school-year interval (2002-2005). 11.1% of the students endorsed current (past 4 weeks) suicide ideation & 16.5% had a lifetime suicide attempt or self-injurious episode. Students with current suicide ideation had significantly higher depression symptom severity than those without suicide ideation. Suicide ideation was prominently associated with symptoms of desperation. The vast majority of students with moderately severe to severe depression or current suicide ideation were not receiving any psychiatric treatment at the time of assessment. Results demonstrate the need to provide effective mental health outreach and treatment services to this population. (24 refs.)