Adolescent depressed mood, reports of suicide attempts, and asking for help.

Abstract

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.