Prevalence and Predictors of Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harm, and Suicide Attempts in Iceland

Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide. The cross-national lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts has been reported to be 9.2%, with rates increasing considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although some studies have explored suicidality in Iceland, research on risk factors remains limited. This study addresses this gap in the literature by presenting descriptive statistics on the prevalence of suicidal behaviors and evaluating risk factors to advance knowledge about suicide Iceland. Data were drawn from a random general population sample (n = 1029). Suicidality and self-harm were assessed using targeted survey items alongside standardized self-report instruments to evaluate predictors, specifically the DASS-21, the PCL-5, and the Social Support-Friends and Family Scales. In total, 5.6% reported a prior suicide attempt, and the lifetime prevalence of self-harm was 6.1%. However, past-year rates were notably lower: 0.2% for suicide attempts, 0.9% for self-harm, and 2.7% for recent self-harm ideation. Logistic regression analyses showed that younger age, prior exposure to suicide, and depressive symptomatology were consistently associated with an elevated risk for self-harm and suicidal behavior. Notably, men demonstrated increased odds of suicidal ideation, but not suicide attempts. For self-harm, depressive symptoms and younger age emerged as key predictors, whereas exposure to suicide was nonsignificant after adjustment. Gender-stratified models revealed similar patterns, although family support was protective only among men, whereas friend support was protective only among women. Finally, exposure to suicide remains a key predictor for women but not men after adjustment, highlighting possible gender-based pathways to suicidality. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing up-to-date prevalence estimates and preliminary insights into clinically relevant risk factors for suicidal behavior in an Icelandic cohort.