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According to a new study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, one in five students reported having suicidal thoughts over the past year, a finding highlighting the urgent need to help youth reduce the overwhelming stress of university life.
The study, published Thursday in the journal Depression & Anxiety, surveyed more than 67,000 students in more than 100 US universities. He found that racial, sexual and gender minorities are particularly vulnerable, but that stress, mental health diagnoses and the risk of suicide or suicidal thoughts were common to all students.
One in four students reported being diagnosed or treated for a mental health problem in the previous year and one-fifth of the students surveyed had thought of suicide, with 9% having attempted suicide and close to 20 %.
The study also found that sexual minorities, including transgender and bisexual students, were more likely to suffer from mental disorders and suicidal thoughts. About two-thirds of transgender students reported being self-injurious and over one-third reported attempting suicide. The study found similar rates among bisexual students.
The beginning of the school year can be particularly difficult for students and their families, said the main author of the newspaper, Cindy Liu.
"Colleges and family members who send students to the university must remember that this is a phase of life where young people are confronted with new relationships and new stressful situations," said Liu in a statement. about the study.
Stressful events can not be avoided and in some cases are normal, said Liu, but it can help set up a plan to deal with stress.
According to the study, the types of events that students deemed traumatic or difficult to master were studies, career problems, the death of a family member or a friend. , intimate or social relationships, health problems, personal appearance and sleep.
The survey found that three out of four students reported having experienced at least one stressful event during the past year. More than 20% reported experiencing six or more stressful events. This stress was related to diagnoses of mental health, self-injury and suicidality, according to the study.
To carry out this study, Liu and his colleagues analyzed the results of a survey conducted in the spring of 2015 by the American College Health Association – National College Health Assessment. He asked various questions about depression, anxiety, and treatment.
The study found that mental health symptoms are higher today than at the last survey, in 2009. Researchers also believe that mental health problems may be under-reported for racial minorities and ethnic. Despite a higher likelihood of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, Asian students reported a lower mental health diagnosis rate than white students.
Laura Krantz can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @laurakrantz.
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