Students less likely to use 988 Lifeline for substance use concerns compared with other mental health concerns<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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MONDAY, Feb. 26, 2024 (HealthDay News) — College students are less likely to use the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for substance use than for other mental health concerns, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling<\/em>.<\/p>\n Afroze N. Shaikh, from Georgia State University in Atlanta, and colleagues examined the potential for the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which offers free 24\/7 crisis support, for addressing the low levels of help-seeking for students with substance use.<\/p>\n The researchers found that among a sample of 446 college students, more frequent substance use significantly predicted lower help-seeking intentions for suicidal thoughts. Compared with other mental health concerns, students were least likely to use the lifeline for substance use concerns.<\/p>\n “These findings highlight the need to assess public messaging campaigns specific to helplines, and the 988 Lifeline in particular, in order to impact both help-seeking intentions and behavior,” the authors write. “Despite the availability of services, further efforts may be needed in order to make this known to the public and across college campuses.”<\/p>\n