Suicidal ideation among basic education teachers in Minas Gerais, Brazil

The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and associated factors among elementary school teachers in the public school system of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, at the time of the resumption of in-person teaching activities after the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a cross-sectional study that analyzed baseline data from a web survey entitled the ProfSMinas Project. The dependent variable - suicidal ideation - was assessed by responding to one of the questions on the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20. The independent variables included sociodemographic characteristics, work and employment characteristics, health status, and habits/behaviors. Crude and adjusted associations between the variables were estimated using logistic regression. A total of 1,907 teachers participated, and the prevalence of suicidal ideation was 5.6%. The final adjusted model showed greater chances of suicidal ideation among men, those without a partner, those with a previous diagnosis of depression, those with sleep disorders, and teachers who used smartphones excessively. The results indicate the importance of expanding strategies aimed at the school community to prevent suicidal behavior, considering the risks to which teachers are exposed.