| The Behavioral Health Questionnaire (BHQ-14), developed by Jenny Lowry and Mark Kopka, is a brief mental health survey designed to measure an individual's psychological condition. During the 2000--2001 academic year, the BHQ-14 was administered to all students who sought treatment at the Johns Hopkins University Counseling and Student Development Center (JHUCSDC). Students at Johns Hopkins University were found to have the third highest incidents of suicide in the United States ("MIT, Harvard, JHU Have Highest," 2001) and the JHUCSDC introduced the suicide tracking system, developed by David Jobes, Ph.D. to assist clinicians in assessing and monitoring the progress of suicidal students seen at the clinic.; The present study compared the therapy progress, as measured by the BHQ-14, of suicidal students included in the suicide tracking system with (a) students who reported some minor suicidal thoughts, feelings, or intentions but were not included in the suicide tracking system and (b) students who reported no suicidal thoughts, feelings, or intentions. Results revealed significant differences in first therapy session BHQ-14 overall scores between suicidal students and those who reported no suicidal thoughts, feelings, or intentions. This discrepancy suggests that the BHQ-14 first session scores may be useful for clinicians in making determinations of inclusion in the suicide tracking system. Implications regarding other analyses were also considered. |
