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The current study explored depression, help‐seeking, and academic struggles among graduate students. Focus groups were conducted with graduate students who self‐reported currently or previously experiencing depression. Mental health, help‐seeking, and campus mental health culture were discussed. Participants described the emergence or reemergence of mental health challenges. Although some reported feeling comfortable discussing depression with friends, participants noted minimal institutional openness about mental health, being expected to be mentally and physically exhausted, and fear of stigmatization.

Context: Approximately 22 people die each day in the United States as a result of the shortage of transplantable organs. This is particularly problematic among Spanish-dominant Hispanics. Increasing the number of registered organ donors can reduce this deficit.Objective: The goal of the current set of studies was to conceptually replicate a prior study indicating the lack of utility of a lone, immediate and complete registration opportunity (ICRO).Design and Setting: The study, a quasi-experimental design involving a total of 4 waves of data collection, was conducted in 2 different Mexican consulates in the United States. Guided by the IIFF Model (ie, an ICRO, information, focused engagement, and favorable activation), each wave compared a lone ICRO to a condition that likewise included an ICRO but also included the 3 additional intervention components recommended by the model (ie, information, focused engagement, and favorable activation).Participants: Visitors to the Mexican consulates in Tucson, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, constituted the participant pool.Main Outcome Measure: New organ donor registrations represented the dependent variable.Results: When all 4 components of the IIFF Model were present, approximately 4 registrations per day were recorded; the lone ICRO resulted in approximately 1 registration every 15 days.Conclusion: An ICRO, without the other components of the IIFF Model, is of minimal use in regard to garnering organ donor registrations. Future studies should use the IIFF Model to consider how the utility of ICROs can be maximized.

We conducted two experimental studies influenced by the overheard communication technique in which we assessed whether a depression public service announcement (D-PSA) that appeared to be intended for someone else (e.g., “Do you have a friend who is depressed?”) could influence help-seeking inclinations among people with elevated depressive symptomatology. In Study 1, participants (N= 335) viewed a print D-PSA that was either direct or mistargeted. In Study 2, participants (N= 1,195) viewed a direct or mistargeted video D-PSA or no video. In support of the utility of the mistargeted-communication technique, the mistargeted D-PSA resulted in significantly more help-seeking intentions from a romantic partner and close friends than did a direct D-PSA among people with heightened levels of depressive symptomatology (Study 1). In Study 2, among people with heightened levels of depressive symptomatology, assignment to the mistargeted D-PSA condition, compared with the direct D-PSA and the no D-PSA control conditions, resulted in more favorable attitudes and increased intentions to seek help from a website.

Context Despite their increasing need for kidneys and low nonliving donation rates, minimal research has been conducted to ascertain the perceptions of Hispanic Americans about living organ donation and the process of asking for such a donation.Objective To examine perceptions of Hispanics regarding barriers to and benefits of living donation as well as the process of asking someone to be a living donor.Design A qualitative study consisting of 10 focus groups conducted in 2 series.Participants Adult Spanish-language-dominant Hispanic members of the general population of Tucson, Arizona.Results The main barriers to living organ donation were a lack of knowledge or information and fear of the donation process. Knowing that one has helped save or improve another's life was the central benefit. Most participants reported being willing to ask a relative to be a living donor if they were ever in need. Two main responses typified these individuals: no concern about asking because of a strong desire to fight for one's health and for one's family, or asking despite difficulties and concerns about the process. A significant minority of participants indicated they would not ask for a donation, because of either a desire to avoid harming others or the expectation that a relative would initiate an offer.

Context Hispanic Americans have a substantial need for organ transplants and are underrepresented among organ donors, yet little is known about predictors of organ donation outcomes in this population.Objective To assess factors that may function as significant predictors of organ donation behavior among Hispanic Americans.Design A random-digit-dial computer-assisted telephone-interview survey.Setting Pima and Maricopa counties in Arizona.Participants 1200 Hispanic Americans.Main Outcome Measures Family discussion of organ donation and willingness to be an organ donor.Results Significant predictors of family discussion of organ donation include knowing someone willing to be an organ donor and disagreeing that carrying a donor card results in inadequate medical care. Willingness to be a donor is also predictive of family discussion. Significant predictors of willingness to be an organ donor are knowing someone willing to be an organ donor, being female, and disagreeing that thoughts about donation leads to thoughts about one's own mortality. Having a family discussion about organ donation is also predictive of willingness to be an organ donor.Conclusion The data provide a springboard for larger studies encompassing the diversity and geographical dispersion of Hispanic Americans. The data also highlight the importance of educational efforts to make Hispanic Americans aware of people in their community who have donated in the past or who are now potential donors.