Adolescent depressed mood, reports of suicide attempts, and asking for help.
Subjects of this study were 220 students in the 6th through 12th grades. Results indicate that 57% of the students reported symptoms of depressed mood (CES-D); 33% had thought of suicide; and 6% had attempted suicide. Depressed mood scores were significantly different between those students who had attempted suicide and those who had not. Loneliness was identified as a problem among 66% of the students, along with school-related problems and not feeling good about oneself. Fifty percent of the middle school students and 40% of the high school students were unaware of services in their school. Among the students with symptoms of depressed mood, 49% did not ask for help. Of those who did not seek help, 68% believed they had to take care of their problems themselves. Adolescents who have symptoms of depressed mood and who believe they must take care of their own problems are over-represented among teenagers who think of attempting suicide.
Culp
A M
AM
Department of Family Relations and Child Development at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078-0337, USA.
Clyman
M M
MM
Culp
R E
RE
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D013406:Suicide, Attempted