It’s well-established that mental health among adolescents has declined over the past two decades, and researchers have been working to understand why more young people are dying by suicide.
A sweeping new study that includes researchers from across the globe sheds new light on the factors influencing this ongoing crisis. The study, published in Psychiatry Research, surveyed nearly 73,000 students—most in their first year of college—across 71 institutions in 18 countries. It is the largest international study of student mental health ever conducted.
The study found that many university students have considered suicide, with 47 percent of participants experiencing suicidal thoughts at some point in their lifetime and 30 percent experiencing suicidal thoughts within the 12 months preceding the survey. In addition, 14 percent had made a specific plan in the 12 months before the survey, and 2.3 percent attempted suicide in the 12 months before the survey.
Analyzing the risk factors, researchers found that participants’ childhood experiences played a critical role in predicting suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The strongest risk factors of suicidal thoughts were a history of emotional abuse, a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Mood disorders like major depression were most strongly associated with the initial emergence of suicidal thoughts. Other mental health conditions, such as panic disorder and bipolar disorder, were more strongly linked to the transition from having suicidal thoughts to making an attempt.
Similarly, the study revealed that different types of childhood trauma led to distinct patterns among students. Participants who reported emotional abuse were more likely to begin having suicidal thoughts; those who reported physical abuse were more likely to repeat suicide attempts over time.
What This Tells Us About Risk Factors for Suicidality
This data sheds new light on how we think about suicide risk and reveals important nuances about different factors. Health care providers often focus on immediate stressors—for example, academic pressure, social isolation, or recent life events. But this research suggests that some risk factors occurred years earlier.
Students’ identities also played a critical role in their likelihood of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Students who identified as transgender were 2.4 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and 3.6 times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their peers. Students identifying as non-heterosexual also faced a greater likelihood of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, even after accounting for other factors like childhood adversity and mental health disorders.
The research underscores the complex nature of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Risk factors stack throughout a person’s life—with each traumatic event and mental health disorder potentially contributing to the risk, researchers explained.
Understanding these patterns may help health care providers and schools intervene more effectively with a broad range of prevention strategies, such as early screening for mental health disorders and childhood trauma, community-building for at-risk populations, and trauma-informed mental health care for students at risk.
The take-home message: Understanding the risk factors for suicide among young people—and particularly the role of childhood experiences—can help health care providers and schools to identify those at the highest risk and provide support services.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. In the U.S., contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. For international resources, visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention at iasp.info.
