title: Peer response to messages of distress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicidal young adults often confide their distress to peers. It is unclear, however, what types of assistance a friend may offer in response to various symptoms of distress as well as whether the sex of either individual affects responses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined open-ended responses to e-mail vignettes from a fictitious friend exhibiting depressed, irritable, or overtly suicidal communications.
  
  
  METHODS
  College student participants (n = 106) read e-mail messages from a fictitious friend, to which they composed a reply. Replies were coded to reflect the presence/absence of mention of professional help, problem-oriented (personal) help, and social support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Problem-oriented help was offered the most across conditions; professional help was offered least in response to depressed or irritable vignettes. Women were more likely to offer any type of help than men. Patterns of help-giving and sex differences in help-giving varied by condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate students' preferences for solving peer problems personally rather than professionally. Campus prevention and intervention efforts should focus on enhancing students' peer support and referral skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Learning, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA. barton@etsu.edu
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Jameson K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: M Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lovejoy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011340:Problem Solving; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention