J Am Coll Health. 2025 Aug 7:1-8. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2025.2542413. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study describes the prevalence of and relationships between suicide risk, substance use, and help-seeking intentions among college students, as well as knowledge and utilization of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
PARTICIPANTS: The sample included 1,345 racially diverse college students from a large, urban university in the Southeastern United States.
METHODS: SPSS was used to test correlational relationships between help-seeking intentions and suicide or substance use. Descriptive statistics revealed current rates of suicide risk, substance use, and help-seeking intentions.
RESULTS: Help-seeking intentions was negatively correlated with suicide risk, suicide behavior, and substance use frequency. Only 20 participants reported using the 988 Lifeline, while 56.6% of participants were unaware of the service. During a crisis, 21.9% of participants reported they would not contact any services.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the need for crisis training across services and social supports, and greater public awareness of mental health and crisis services.
PMID:40773536 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2025.2542413
