Prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among young people in the MENAT region: a systematic review and meta-analysis
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Suicidal ideation and attempts are prevalent in Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) youth, linked to stressors and substance use. This highlights the need for tailored prevention strategies and improved mental health services.
Area Of Science
- Mental Health Research
- Epidemiology
- Adolescent Psychology
Background
- Suicide is a leading cause of mortality in adolescents and young adults globally.
- The Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) region faces unique challenges including cultural stigma and limited mental health infrastructure, potentially increasing youth vulnerability to suicidal behaviors.
- Existing evidence on youth suicidality in the MENAT region is fragmented, necessitating a comprehensive review.
Purpose Of The Study
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among young people (≤25 years) in the MENAT region.
- To identify significant risk and protective factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempts in this population.
- To address the fragmented evidence base and inform suicide prevention efforts in the MENAT region.
Main Methods
- Systematic search of six electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO) for studies published between January 2010 and June 2025.
- Inclusion of observational studies in English reporting suicidality prevalence in individuals aged ≤25 years in the MENAT region.
- Meta-analysis using random-effects models to calculate pooled prevalence and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), considering limitations of single-item measures.
Main Results
- The pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation was 25% (95% CI: 0.19-0.31), and suicide attempts were 12% (95% CI: 0.06-0.19) across 47 studies (115,152 participants).
- Significant risk factors for suicidal ideation included female gender, bullying, loneliness, substance use (smoking, alcohol, amphetamines), depression, anxiety, and history of sexual abuse.
- Suicide attempts were strongly associated with alcohol and cannabis use, anxiety, depression, and a history of sexual abuse; protective factors remain under-researched.
Conclusions
- Suicidal ideation and attempts are significant public health concerns among youth in the MENAT region, strongly correlated with psychosocial stressors and substance use.
- The frequent use of single-item measures in existing studies limits the accuracy and comparability of prevalence estimates.
- There is an urgent need for culturally sensitive, evidence-based suicide prevention strategies and improved mental health services for young people in the MENAT region.
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