Abstract
Purpose of the study: Depression is a common mental disorder which had become a powerful trigger of suicidal ideation. The aim is to identify the difference and relationship of depression and suicidal ideation among university students. Methods: A total of four hundred and fifty-six (N=456) students were recruited through proportionate sampling. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R) and Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (ASIQ) were used to measure depression and suicidal ideation, respectively. Results: The results show that there was a weak and positive relationship between depression and suicidal ideation among university students (r=.22). A significant difference of depression was found between genders (p<.05), on the contrary no significant difference on suicidal ideation between genders (p>.05) Conclusion: This study helps in examining the relationship and difference in depression and suicidal ideation among university students. Female has higher depression than male counterpart due to poor control over emotion. In conclusion, as depression increases, the suicidal ideation also increases among university students.
Highlights
In Malaysia, depression is the most common mental health illness with increasing rate and increasing from 10.7 % in 1996 to 11.2 % in 2006, and 29.2 % in 2015 (New Straits Times, 2018)
The respondents were divided proportionately according to the number of students based on the universities involved comprised of University Technology MARA (UiTM) Sarawak (n=175) and UNIMAS (n=281); with 50% male (n=228) and 50% female (n=228) students
The present study found that there was a significant difference in depression between male and female university students
Summary
In Malaysia, depression is the most common mental health illness with increasing rate and increasing from 10.7 % in 1996 to 11.2 % in 2006, and 29.2 % in 2015 (New Straits Times, 2018). Previous review reported that the prevalence of depression among university students was higher than the general population (Ibrahim et al, 2013). University students are depressed for obtaining higher CGPA and getting the highest score in the examination (Baharudin, 2016). Depression affects mental health problems between the young group mostly institution of higher learning students due to stress caused from studies and independent living (Islam et al, 2018). Zuo et al (2020) proposed that stressful life events have a direct and positive influence on depression. Depressions influence physical and psychological well-being as it is related to acute contagious diseases, suicidal thoughts, and suicide (Buchanan, 2012; Zuo et al, 2020)
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