Factors Associated with Recurrent Suicidal Ideation among Racially and Ethnically Diverse College Students with a History of Suicide Attempt: The Role of Mindfulness

Abstract

Although one-third of enrolled U.S. undergraduate college students are non-White, little is known about risk factors for suicidal behavior among racial and ethnic minority students. Thus, we set out to determine psychosocial factors associated with recurrent suicidal ideation among racially and ethnically diverse college students with a history of suicide attempt. From 2012-2013, 1,734 racially and ethnically diverse college students completed an on-line survey of suicidal behavior and associated factors. Depression, hopelessness, rejection sensitivity, and mindfulness, as well as past-year discrimination, ethnic identification, and acculturative stress were measured using well-validated self-report instruments. The Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation was used to assess current suicidal ideation. A subsample of 118 college students who self-reported a past suicide attempt were selected for the current analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to test associations between risk factors and the presence of suicidal ideation, and linear regression analysis was used to test factors associated with suicidal ideation severity among those who reported current suicidal ideation. Depression was significantly related to both the presence and severity of current suicidal ideation. Mindfulness, and in particular awareness of present moment experience, was also inversely associated with ideation severity. We found depression and mindlessness were associated with suicidal ideation severity among a sample of diverse college students at high risk for suicidal behavior due to a past suicide attempt. Factors unique to the minority experience, such as acculturative stress, were not associated with current suicidal ideation. Implications for suicide prevention are discussed.

A Brief Mindfulness Intervention Attenuates Desire to Escape Following Experimental Induction of the Interpersonal Adversity Implicated in Suicide Risk

“…One intervention that holds promise here is mindfulness training. Mindfulness, the process of attending to current experience with awareness and acceptance, has been associated with reduced risk of suicidality in several cross-sectional studies (Anastasiades, Kapoor, Wootten, & Lamis, 2016;Chesin & Jeglic, 2016;Lamis & Dvorak, 2013) and is a key feature of clinical treatments shown to reduce risk for suicidality (e.g., Barnhofer et al, 2015;Linehan et al, 2006). Mindfulness may protect against suicidality by enhancing acceptance of negative thoughts and emotions and facilitating re-engagement with goal-directed activities even in the face of adversity (Garland, Farb, Goldin, & Fredrickson, 2015;Kabat-Zinn, 1992;Williams & Swales, 2004).…”

Violence Exposure and Mental Health of College Students in the United States

“…Among students, about 7% report suicidal ideation, 2% report a suicidal plan, and 0.5% report a suicide attempt in the past year [ 9 ]. Given that anxiety, depression, and suicidal behaviors tend to co-occur [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], some students suffer from more than one of these mental health problems [ 18 , 19 ]. Still, many students do not seek treatment [ 20 , 21 ].…”

What is in It for Them? Understanding the Impact of a ‘Support, Appreciate, Listen Team’ (SALT)-Based Suicide Prevention Peer Education Program on Peer Educators

“…Mindfulness is focused on non-judgmental observation of current experiences, by attending to the breath and sensations of the body. Based on the helpline experience, it was hypothesized that mindfulness-based exercises would have various positive effects, such as increased emotional regulation and awareness and heightened concentration levels (Chesin & Jeglic, 2016 ). Mindfulness was thus included as a key element of the PE curriculum.…”