Suicidal Behavior and Help Seeking Among Diverse College Students

Abstract

Suicidal and help‐seeking behaviors of students of color remain a significant problem on college campuses. Self‐reported suicidal experiences and help‐seeking behavior of diverse students are examined on the basis of results from a national survey of college student mental health. The results suggest significant differences in the expression of suicidal thoughts and behavior across racial and ethnic groups and different experiences in their referral for, and utilization of, professional help.

A theater intervention to promote communication and disclosure of suicidal ideation

“…Today, over 50% of college undergraduates report they have experienced some type of suicidal thinking in their lives, with 18% having seriously considered an attempt, and more than 90% of campus counseling centers throughout the nation reporting substantial increases in mental health problems in recent years (Czyz, Horwitz, Eisenberg, Kramer, & King, 2013). Contagion is a frightening potential consequence of high school and college suicides, as adolescents appear particularly susceptible to imitating the suicidal behavior of their peers (Gould et al, 2003) and young people are particularly resistant to seeking professional help (Brownson, Becker, Shadick, Jaggars, & Nitkin-Kaner, 2014). …”

Interpersonal suicide risk for Latino/a Americans: Investigating thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and cultural factors of relevance

“…In addition, investigators have directly asserted that cultural factors are an important element to include when studying the suicidal behavior of racially diverse groups, and that the absence of such factors from the IPTS and INQ-15 are possible explanations for the theory finding inconsistent support among racially diverse populations (Davidson et al, 2010;O'Keefe et al, 2014;Wong et al, 2011;Garza & Pettit, 2010). Clearly, accounting for the different ways in which different cultures may endorse and succumb to suicide is essential to advancing our general understanding regarding individual and racial group differences in suicidality (AAS, 2016;Brownson et al, 2014).…”

“…Most suicide research regarding college-aged students draws from general campus samples, with little focus on reporting or analyzing data for differences among racial group statuses. However, some studies have begun to establish that college students of color may be at higher risk for suicidal ideation than their European American peers, and that college students of color may not receive proper referrals or obtain help for their concerns surrounding suicide (Kisch, Leino, & Silverman, 2005;Otero, Rivas, & Rivera, 2007;Muehlenkamp, Marrone, Gray, & Brown, 2009;Brownson et al, 2014). These studies have brought attention to the complexity of understanding risk factors for suicide among diverse racial groups and the questionable utility of using universal assessments or general theory bases with racially diverse groups of college students.…”

“…In fact, college-aged Latinas were twice as likely as their non-Latina peers to have engaged in suicidal ideation (Tortolero & Roberts, 2001). To add concern, replicated findings indicate that young adult Latino/as also report lower rates of help-seeking than their European American peers (De Luca, Schmeelk-Cone, & Wyman, 2015;Brownson et al, 2014). Clearly, further theory-driven examination into the suicidal behavior of Latino/a college students is needed to provide insight into both general and culture-based risk factors surrounding their suicidal behavior.…”

“…There is clear evidence that various racial groups in the US complete suicide at different rates and likely conceptualize their suicidal behavior differently (AAS, 2016;Brownson et al, 2014). Evidence also exists that key culture-based variables such as acculturation, enculturation, and acculturative stress are important variables to explore in research using Latino/a samples (Del Pilar, 2009;García & Zea, 1997;Rogler et al, 1991;Saldana, 1994), and may be related to the suicidal behavior of Latino/as, especially Latino/a college students (Brownson et al, 2014;De Luca et al, 2015;CDC, 2014;Locke & Newcomb, 2005;Tortolero & Roberts, 2001;Zayas et al, 2005).…”