Citation

Haas A, Koestner B, Rosenberg J, Moore D, Garlow SJ, Sedway J, Nicholas L, Hendin H, Mann JJ, Nemeroff CB. J. Am. Coll. Health 2008; 57(1): 15-22.

Affiliation

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), New York, NY.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3200/JACH.57.1.15-22

PMID

18682341

Abstract

Objective and Participants: From 2002 to 2005, the authors tested an interactive, Web-based method to encourage college students at risk for suicide to seek treatment. Methods: The authors invited students at 2 universities to complete an online questionnaire that screened for depression and other suicide risk factors. Respondents received a personalized assessment and were able to communicate anonymously with a clinical counselor online. At-risk students were urged to attend in-person evaluation and treatment. Results: A total of 1,162 students (8% of those invited) completed the screening questionnaire; 981 (84.4%) were designated as at high or moderate risk. Among this group, 190 (19.4%) attended an inperson evaluation session with the counselor, and 132 (13.5%) entered treatment. Students who engaged in online dialogues with the counselor were 3 times more likely than were those who did not to come for evaluation and enter treatment. Conclusions: The method has considerable promise for encouraging previously untreated, at-risk college students to get help.

Language: en