The Relationship Between Suicide Ideation, Behavioral Health, and College Academic Performance.

The impact of suicidal ideation on college students' academic performance has yet to be examined, yet mental health is often linked with academic performance. Underclassmen and upperclassmen were compared on behavioral health outcomes related to academic success (N = 26,457). Ideation (b = -0.05, p < .05), increased mental health (b = -0.03, p < .01) or substance use severity (b = -0.02, p < .01) was associated with lower GPAs. Underclassmen's behavioral health severity was related to lower GPA. Students reported higher GPAs when participating in extracurricular activities during the past year. Ideation, beyond mental health, is an important when assessing academic performance. Increasing students' connections benefits students experiencing behavioral concerns but also aids in suicide prevention initiatives and improves academic outcomes. Creating integrated health care systems on campus where physical, mental health and academic support services is crucial to offer solutions for students with severe or co-morbid mental health histories.

Primary care providers' perceptions of and experiences with an integrated healthcare model.

OBJECTIVE AND PARTICIPANTS: The authors examined the experiences of primary care providers participating in an integrated healthcare service between mental health and primary care in a university health center. In this program, behavioral health providers work collaboratively with primary care providers in the treatment of students. Participants consisted of the 10 primary care providers participating in the program during the summer of 2004. METHODS: The authors evaluated the program using a descriptive survey, analyzed by a combination of measures of central tendency and multidimensional scaling with cluster analysis. RESULTS: They found a 2-dimensional, 3-cluster solution for the last 3 items. Findings indicate that although primary care providers valued behavioral health as a resource, a gap exists between what they believe behavioral health can assist with and their actual referral practice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate a need for further communication about the roles that mental health can play in the collaborative treatment of physical symptoms.