2012/02/01 by Corey L. M. Keyes, Daniel Eisenberg, Geraldine S. Perry +4
Psychology · #Mental Health Treatment and Access #Mental Health via Writing #Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
paper · doi:10.1080/07448481.2011.608393
openalex publication_date 2012/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether level of positive mental health complements mental illness in predicting students at risk for suicidal behavior and impaired academic performance. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 5,689 college students participated in the 2007 Healthy Minds Study and completed an Internet survey that included the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form and the Patient Health Questionnaire screening scales for depression and anxiety disorders, questions about suicide ideation, plans, and attempts, and academic impairment. RESULTS: Just under half (49.3%) of students were flourishing and did not screen positive for a mental disorder. Among students who did, and those who did not, screen for a mental disorder, suicidal behavior and impaired academic performance were lowest in those with flourishing, higher among those with moderate, and highest in those with languishing mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Positive mental health complements mental disorder screening in mental health surveillance and prediction of suicidal behavior and impairment of academic performance.