Help-Negation and Suicidal Ideation: the Role of Depression, Anxiety and Hopelessness

The association between suicide ideation & intentions to seek help was examined in a sample of 302 Australian university students. Higher levels of suicide ideation were related to lower help-seeking intentions for family, friends, & professional mental health care, & higher intentions to seek help from no one. Moderation effects indicated higher levels of depressive symptoms strengthen the help-negating effect of suicide ideation for seeking help from friends, famiiy, & no one. Results highlight the importance of understanding why young people become reluctant to seek help as their levels of suicide ideation & depressive symptoms increase. (89 refs.)