P-38 Mental Health and Suicide Risk among Undergraduate University Students in Barbados during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Methods: The NCHA was distributed online to all current students at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, from October 2021 to March 2022. Measures included the Kessler-6 (K6; a measure of generalised psychological distress), Diener Flourishing Scale (DFS), two-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC2), Short UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS3), and the Suicide Behaviours Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R).

Results: A total of 649 students responded to the survey and the response rate was approximately 10 % (accounting for enrollment fluctuation). Approximately, 76.5% of students reported moderate or serious levels of psychological distress. A total of 634 students completed the SBQ-R, of which 231 (36.4%) screened positive for suicide risk. Sex differences in suicide risk were not significant. Another 17 students (2.7%) reported attempting suicide in the past 12 months. Comparison of mean total scores by sex for all mental health scales showed significant gender differences only for the K6. Biological females reported greater levels of psychological distress than did males. Approximately, 30.4 % of students indicated they had received mental health services previously, 14.3% in the past 12 months. Approximately, 75.6% indicated they would consider seeking mental health services in the future.

Conclusion: Alarming rates of self-reported psychological distress and suicidal ideation underscore the need to prioritise student mental health supports during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Focused interventions informed by longitudinal research are needed.