Citation

O'Gorman KM, Schmaal L, Ratheesh A, Habib G, Tokatlidis O, Jackson-Simpson J, Cotton SM, Rice SM. Australas. Psychiatry 2023; 31(3): 277-281.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/10398562231162224

PMID

36913715

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of tertiary students and non-students attending a specialist clinic for severe mood disorders.

METHOD: Medical record audit of clients discharged from the Youth Mood Clinic (YMC). Data extracted included depressive symptomatology, suicidal ideation, self-harm, suicide attempt, tertiary education engagement, drop-out and deferral.

RESULTS: Data from 131 clients (M age = 19.58 years, SD = 2.66) were analysed, including 46 tertiary students. Relative to non-students, at intake, tertiary students reported more severe depressive symptomatology (d = 0.43). They were more likely to experience suicidal ideation at intake (V = 0.23), and during treatment (V = 0.18). Tertiary students were also more likely to be living separately to their family of origin (V = 0.20) but were less likely to have experienced parental separation (V = 0.19). 21.73% of tertiary students dropped out or deferred study during care.

CONCLUSION: In this cohort, those engaged in tertiary education experience more severe depression and more commonly experienced suicidal ideation. These young people require targeted support for their mental health while they undertake tertiary education.

Language: en

Keywords

*Depressive Disorder/psychology; *Mood Disorders/epidemiology/therapy; Adolescent; Adult; depression; Depression/epidemiology/psychology; Humans; mood disorders; Risk Factors; Students/psychology; Suicidal Ideation; suicide; Suicide, Attempted/psychology; tertiary education; university; Young Adult