A nationally representative sample of veteran and matched non-veteran college students: Mental health symptoms, suicidal ideation, and mental health treatment. Issue 2 (8th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Valenstein, Marcia; Clive, Rebecca; Ganoczy, Dara; Garlick, James; Walters, Heather M.; West, Brady T.; Kim, Hyungjin M.; Eisenberg, Daniel; Bohnert, Kipling M.; DesJardins, Stephen L.; Zivin, Kara; Lepkowski, James; Pfeiffer, Paul N.
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 70:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 436
• Page End: 445
• Publication Date: 2022-03-08
• Subjects: Health services -- mental health -- students -- suicide -- veterans; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1753751
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To assess mental health symptoms, suicidal ideation/behaviors, and treatment among a nationally representative probability sample of student veterans. Participants : Student veterans enrolled in post-secondary educational institutions and matched comparison students. Methods: Sampled participants completed an online survey (n = 1, 838). Analyses accounted for the complex sample design and non-response. Results : Substantial percentages of student veterans screened positive for: depression (36.9%, 95% CI: 31.1-42.7), PTSD (35.7%, 95% CI 29.9-41.5), anxiety (29.5%, 95% CI 26.8-32.2), and suicidal ideation (14.6%, 95% CI 12.1-17.1), with student veterans having odds ratios between 1.7 to 2.4 for positive screens compared to non-veteran students. Only 41.5% (95% CI 33.0-50.0) of student veterans with positive screens received treatment, although they had 50% higher odds of receiving treatment than non-veteran students. Conclusions: Student veterans have high rates of mental health symptoms and low rates of treatment. However, they are more likely to receive treatment than comparison students.