Survey of 25,000 students found rise in rates of anxiety, depression and suicide attempts
Ontario University and College Health Association (OUCHA) published the results from a survey of more than 25,000 students attending Ontario colleges and universities in the spring of 2016. The survey suggests rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as suicide attempts are up from its first survey in 2013.
Among the major findings:
65 per cent of students reported experiencing overwhelming anxiety in the previous year (up from 57 per cent in 2013).
46 per cent reported feeling so depressed in the previous year it was difficult to function (up from 40 per cent in 2013).
13 per cent had seriously considered suicide in the previous year (up from 10 per cent in 2013).
2.2 per cent reported attempting suicide in the last year (up from 1.5 per cent in 2013).
Nine per cent reported attempting suicide sometime in the past (not restricted to last year).
“We’ve got a major crisis on our hands,” said Houghton, who is also the director of student access, wellness and development at Humber College in Toronto.
Source – http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/mental-health-ontario-campus-crisis-1.3771682