ABSTRACT
Objective
The aim of this paper is to analyze the lifetime and past 12-month prevalence rates of suicidal behavior (suicidal ideation, suicide plans and suicidal attempt) and associated factors among medical students at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Methods
Sectional study was applied to a representative and random set (n = 324) of 1,217 medical students between April and November of 2019. The data were collected by five researchers through in-person interviews with 296 of 324 volunteers (participation rate of 91.4%), using the Multisite Intervention Study on Suicidal Behavior interview to assess suicidal behavior, the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) to assess major depressive episode, and ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test) to assess substance use and abuse. A logistic regression model was used to calculate associations.
Results
The rates of past-12 month were found to be 18.9% (CI 95%: 14.9-23.8) for ideation, 6.1% (CI 95%: 3.9-9.4) for suicide plans and 1.7% (CI 95%: 0.7-4.1) for suicidal attempts. The lifetime prevalence rates were 27.7% (CI 95%: 22,9-33,0) for suicidal ideation, 12.5% (CI 95%: 9.2-16.7) for plans and 5.7% (CI 95%: 3.6-9.0) for suicidal attempts. These rates are higher than the measured results among medical students in Brazil. The factors associated in the final analysis were the major depressive episode and current psychological treatment.
Conclusions
The association between mental health treatment and major depressive episode suggest that the universities should implement suicidal behavior prevention programs.
Suicidal behavior; medical students; risk factors; suicide