Be A Friend: Statistics on Mental Health at Ball State

Data and Information about Suicide, Depression and Other Mental Health

Issues for and about Ball State Students

Suicide is the 2^nd leading cause of death among college students (accidents are #1). About 1100 college students commit suicide each year

In Muncie/Delaware County the suicide rate is 17.2 per 100,000 (2005) while it is 11-12 per 100,000 nationally
Most persons who commit suicide are not in treatment at the time of their suicide
90% of suicides are by people with a treatable mental illness like depression or bipolar disorder.
Most students with depression don't seek help-only about a third do
Depression and bipolar disorders are treatable mental illnesses
Treatment is successful 80% of the time
If we can get people to treatment we can save their lives
Most completed suicides are first attempts so it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression and get people into treatment.
Four times as many women attempt suicide than men
Men are 4 times as successful
The primary way people kill themselves is with firearms. College students do it primarily by jumping and hanging

AmericanCollegeHealth Association Data

BSU 2006

Random, sample of over 1000 BSU students

% = students reporting event affected their academic performance in the last year

Death of Friend/Family Member-9.4%
Stress-28.4%
Sleep Difficulties-22%
Relationship Difficulty-12.5%
Internet use-13.1%
Alcohol-10.6%
Chronic Pain-3.1%
Chronic illness-1.4%
A Physically Abusive Relationship-1.8%
A Sexually Abusive Rel.-2% males; 3% females
An Emotionally Abusive Rel.-12%male; 15%female
Physically Abusive Rel-3% males and 3% females
ADD-6.3%
Concern for troubled friend/family-14.5%
Depression/Anxiety disorder/SAD-11.4%

Percentage of BSUstudents reporting the following symptoms 1-10 times and 11+ times in the last year

Feeling Overwhelmed: 1-10=72%, 11+=19%
Feeling Exhausted: 1-10=68%, 11+=15%
Feeling Hopeless:1-10=48%, 11+=6%
Feeling so depressed it was difficult to function: 1-10=30%, 11+=4%
Seriously considering attempting suicide: 1-10=7%, 11+=2%
Attempting suicide: 1-10=2%
Reported diagnosed with depression=8% m; 13% w
Of those students diagnosed with depression 35% m and 31%w were diagnosed in the last school year
8% m and 12% f were currently in therapy
23% m and 38% w % were currently taking medication

Symptoms of Depression

Depression is present if at least five or more of the following symptoms are present during a two-week period; at least one of the symptoms must be either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities.

Depressed mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
Change in appetite or weight
Change in sleeping patterns
Speaking and/or moving with unusual speed or slowness
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
Decrease in sexual drive
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach or guilt
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, slowed thinking or indecisiveness
Thoughts of death, suicide, or wishes to be dead

Additional factors that point to an increased risk for suicide

Anxiety, agitation, or enraged behavior
Isolation
Drug and/or alcohol use or abuse
History of physical or emotional illness
Feelings of hopelessness or desperation

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in college students. 1100 college students die each year by suicide

Depression at BSU Among Students

Total of 4638 students took depression testing as a part of the Lilly Project 2001-2005

Minimal or None 1042 33.3%
Borderline 1096 35.0%
Mild 716 23.0%
Moderate 225 7.2%
Severe 44 1.4%

On-Line DEPRESSION DATA

At BSU-Students can go on-line and take a depression inventory that asks about suicidal concerns

Suicidal Concerns------In this sample of 5003 students

858 or 17.1% thought of suicide some of the time
119 or 2.4% thought of suicide most of the time
56 or approximately 1% thought of suicide all of the time