Suicidal Ideations in College Students

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Many college students become so distressed at some point they think briefly about killing themselves, and according to a study done by the National Research Consortium of Counseling Centers in Higher Education, more than half of the 26,000 students at 70 colleges said they had at least one episode of suicidal thinking at some point in their lives (Roan, 2008). Two-thirds of those considered suicide on more than once in a 12-month period. Also, in Boston, they found that 15% of students admitted having seriously considered attempting suicide and more than 5% reported making a suicide attempt (Roan, 2008). The majority of the students said the suicidal-thinking was intense but brief, lasting one day or less (Roan, 2008). More than half of the students who experienced a suicidal crisis did not seek professional help or tell anyone about it. The students said the reasons for their suicidal thinking were, wanting relief from physical or emotional pain, problems with romantic relationships, the desire to end their life, and problems with school or academics (Roan, 2008). Individuals with a suicide ideation, are usually considered to later attempt and complete suicide (Pesheva, 2010). National surveys estimate that 11.4% of college students seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, 7.9% made a suicide plan, and 1.7% attempted suicide (American Association of Suicidality, 2011). Suicide ideation has been associated with poor psychosocial functioning, future depressive disorders, school drop-out, risky sexual behavior, aggressive behavior, and substance abuse disorders (Pesheva, 2010). In addition to depression, substance abuse is regarded as a major risk factor for suicidal behavior. (Pesheva, 2010). In college students, drug and alcohol abuse has been linked to both suicide ideation and suicide attempts, especially for men (Pesheva, 2010). Others
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