Psychological factors associated with suicidal ideation in high school adolescentes

Abstract

Suicide is a major public health issue that is often overlooked, surrounded by stigma, myths, and taboos. The aim of this article was to identify psychological factors, such as depression, stress, and anxiety, that predict suicidal ideation in high school adolescents. The study was conducted with 292 students with a mean age of 15.52 ±1.64 years from the Institución Educativa Secundaria Nuestra Señora del Carmen, located in the city of Ilave, Puno region, during the months of May to August 2024. This study employed a descriptive-explanatory cross-sectional design. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis show a significant relationship between depression, stress, and suicidal ideation, suggesting that these factors play an important role in increasing the risk of suicidal thoughts (R² = 0.432). In particular, depression emerged as the strongest predictor (β = 0.462, p < 0.001) compared to stress (β = 0.188, p < 0.05), highlighting the urgency of targeted interventions that prioritize depressive symptoms in suicide prevention strategies. These findings emphasize the need for healthcare professionals to implement comprehensive mental health assessments and interventions that not only focus on alleviating symptoms of depression and stress but also promote resilience and coping mechanisms among at-risk populations.