Suicidal behavior in Spanish university students

Approximately 30% of university students may exhibit suicidal ideation

Young people are one of the populations with the highest risk of suicidal behavior. Specifically in Spain, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the 15-29 age group. The university population falls within this range and shows relevant suicide data in various countries worldwide. This is a demographic that may confront situations of stress, such as pressure during evaluations, high competitiveness, or expectations of their environment regarding their future.

A recent study by Reina-Aguilar and colleagues (2023) has sought to learn more about suicide among university students in Spain during 2021 and 2022. To achieve this, they relied on the participation of 2025 students from universities across Spain. These participants answered a questionnaire about suicide and associated risk factors. The sample had an average age of 23.8 years and had a gender distribution of 75% female.

It was found that nearly 30% had experienced suicidal ideation at some point in their lives. This was associated with depressive symptoms and the experience of sexual violence. On the other hand, having good self-esteem, life satisfaction, and social support acted as protective factors.

Studying and addressing the risk of suicide in this population must be an essential aspect within the educational institutions themselves. Universities cannot simply focus on training professionals; they must also promote healthy habits and take care of their students, who represent an irreplaceable human resource.

Original paper: Reina-Aguilar, P., Díaz-Jiménez, R. M., & Caravaca-Sánchez, F. (2023). Suicide risk among university students in Spain: implications for social work. Social work, 68(4), 299- 306. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swad025