Are students prone to depression and suicidal thoughts?

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Depression affects a significant portion of adolescents and young adults, leading to long-term consequences.
• Early identification and intervention are crucial for managing adolescent mental health.
• Understanding demographic and academic factors associated with depression is vital for targeted support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between depression symptoms and various demographic factors in students.
• To identify specific student populations at higher risk for depressive symptomatology.
• To inform the development of support strategies within academic settings.

Main Methods:

• Anonymously surveyed 1,183 medical and similar faculty students using the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS).
• Collected demographic data including gender, siblings, background, financial status, and living arrangements.
• Analyzed the relationship between depression scores and demographic variables using statistical methods.

Main Results:

• 6.5% of students met criteria for depression; 1.5% reported suicidal thoughts.
• Gender, year of study, major, and financial status significantly influenced depression scores.
• Only children, freshmen, and psychology students showed higher rates of depressive symptomatology.

Conclusions:

• Student susceptibility to depression varies with academic progression and major.
• Socio-demographic factors like gender and financial status play a role in depression risk.
• Targeted interventions considering these factors are needed to support student mental well-being.