[Suicide risk associated with bullying and depression in high school]

Suicide risk is increasingly common among children and adolescents. There are no current and local studies of this reality in northern Peru. The objective was to determine whether suici de risk was associated with bullying and depression in high school students.

An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in a city in northern Peru, using validated surveys to measure suicide risk, bullying and depression. Statical association data were obtained using generali zed linear models.

Out of 289 schoolchildren, 20% was at suicide risk and had some type of depression. Among those on the upper tertile of the bullying scale, 38% had suicidal ideation, while those who were depressed, 63% had suicidal ideation. The frequency of suicide risk increased as a result of bullying score (aPR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.13-2.99, p value = 0.015), being depressed (aPR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.69-6.51, p value < 0.001), family history of suicide (aPR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.55-2.56, p va lue < 0.001), the passive desire to die (aPR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.86-2.61, p value < 0.001), have planned suicide at some point (aPR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.60-2.64; p value < 0.001) and study in a private school (aPR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.14-1.18, p value < 0.001); adjusted by gender and school location. Conclu sion: Mental health of schoolchildren was involved in many aspects, several of them associated with a higher frequency of suicide risk.