Suicidal ideation among Viennese high school students

Kanita Dervic, Türkan Akkaya-Kalayci, Nestor D. Kapusta, Marihan Kaya, Elisabeth Merl, Elisabeth Vogel, Elisabeth Pellegrini, Max H. Friedrich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Suicidality spans a spectrum ranging from suicidal thoughts to suicidal acts, and suicidal ideation is more prevalent in youth populations, suggesting important developmental issues. We assessed the prevalence of lifetime suicidal ideation and associated psychosocial factors among Viennese high school students. METHOD: An anonymous self-report survey assessing demographic characteristics and the major psychiatric risk factors of teenage suicide was completed by students at three Viennese high schools (n = 214; mean age 15.4 years). RESULTS: Eighty-one (37.9%) high school students reported having had suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives, girls significantly more often than boys (48.5% vs. 29.1%, P = 0.004). Furthermore, lifetime suicidal ideation in Viennese high school students was associated with living in broken-home families, cigarette smoking, substance problems (alcohol/drugs), self-reported depression, and high school type (the highest prevalence was in grammar school). After adjusting for confounders, we found that female gender, substance problems, school type and cigarette smoking were significantly associated with lifetime suicidal ideation in Viennese high school students. CONCLUSIONS: The psychosocial factors associated with adolescent suicidal ideation require attention in the contexts of suicide prevention and mental health promotion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)174-180
Number of pages7
JournalWiener Klinische Wochenschrift
Volume119
Issue number5-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Vienna

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine(all)

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