Garcia-Williams Amanda G, Moffitt Lauren, Kaslow Nadine J
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
Acad Psychiatry. 2014 Oct;38(5):554-60. doi: 10.1007/s40596-014-0041-y. Epub 2014 Apr 8.
The objective of this paper is to describe the mental health and service utilization of graduate students at a large southeastern university and identify psychological factors associated with their student suicidal behavior.
E-mail invitations to complete the Interactive Screening Program, an online anonymous mental health questionnaire, were sent to graduate students. The questionnaire included the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as well as items assessing suicide behavior, anxiety, negative emotion, substance use, eating behavior, and service utilization.
A total of 301 graduate students responded to the questionnaires between 14 July 2010 and 24 January 2012. With regards to suicide, 7.3 % of the sample reported thoughts of suicide, 2.3 % reported having plans for suicide, and 1.7 % had hurt themselves in the past 2 weeks; while 9.9 % had ever made a suicide attempt in their lifetime. Graduate students had PHQ-9 scores indicating mild depression, and more than half endorsed feeling nervous, irritable, stressed, anxious, lonely, or having fights/arguments. In terms of service utilization, 22.2 % of the sample was currently taking some type of medication, and 18.5 % currently in counseling/therapy are females and those with higher PHQ-9 scores more likely to be using services. Those endorsing suicidal behavior in the past 2 weeks had significantly higher depression scores than those without such behavior and were characterized by more anxiety, negative emotions (such as loneliness, anger, hopelessness, desperation, and being out of control), substance use, and eating problems.
Graduate students experience significant amounts of stress and anxiety, and their suicidal behavior is strongly characterized by depression, hopelessness, desperation, lack of control, and eating problems. Future work with this population should focus on the development and evaluation of mental health and wellness interventions and on ways to promote help-seeking, especially among male students.
本文旨在描述一所大型东南部大学研究生的心理健康状况及服务利用情况，并确定与学生自杀行为相关的心理因素。
通过电子邮件邀请研究生完成交互式筛查项目，这是一份在线匿名心理健康问卷。该问卷包括患者健康问卷（PHQ-9）以及评估自杀行为、焦虑、负面情绪、物质使用、饮食行为和服务利用情况的项目。
在2010年7月14日至2012年1月24日期间，共有301名研究生回复了问卷。关于自杀，7.3%的样本报告有自杀念头，2.3%报告有自杀计划，1.7%在过去两周内有过自我伤害行为；而9.9%的人一生中曾有过自杀未遂经历。研究生的PHQ-9得分表明存在轻度抑郁，超过一半的人认可感到紧张、易怒、有压力、焦虑、孤独或发生过争吵。在服务利用方面，22.2%的样本目前正在服用某种药物，18.5%目前正在接受咨询/治疗，女性以及PHQ-9得分较高的人更有可能使用相关服务。在过去两周内认可有自杀行为的人，其抑郁得分显著高于没有此类行为的人，且表现出更多焦虑、负面情绪（如孤独、愤怒、绝望、无助和失控）、物质使用和饮食问题。
研究生经历着大量的压力和焦虑，他们的自杀行为强烈地表现为抑郁、绝望、无助、失控和饮食问题。未来针对这一群体的工作应侧重于心理健康和幸福干预措施的开发与评估，以及促进求助行为的方法，尤其是在男学生中。
