Suicidal ideation in high school students: depression and other correlates

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Adolescent Health
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Suicidal ideation is a significant concern among adolescents.
• Understanding associated personal, social, and stress-related variables is crucial for prevention.
• Previous research indicates multifactorial influences on adolescent mental health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between suicidal ideation and various personal variables, stress, and social support in high school students.
• To identify key predictors of suicidal ideation within this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 256 English-Canadian high school students (129 boys, 117 girls).
• Data collected on suicidal ideation, personal variables, stress levels, and social support.
• Statistical analyses including multiple regression and semi-partial correlation were employed.

Main Results:

• Significant associations were found between suicidal ideation and gender, self-esteem, locus of control, depression, drug use, stress, health perception, family status, academic performance, social support, and anomie.
• Depression and alcohol use emerged as the strongest individual predictors of suicidal ideation.
• Removing the effect of depression significantly weakened the association of most other variables with suicidal ideation, except for alcohol use, drug use, and health satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Depression is a primary factor associated with suicidal ideation in adolescents.
• Alcohol use also plays a notable role, independent of depression's influence.
• Interventions targeting depression and substance use may be critical for reducing adolescent suicidal ideation.