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. 2022 Jul 6:41:e2021236.
doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/2023/41/2021236. eCollection 2022.

Suicide risk in high school students: who are the most vulnerable groups?

Laura Silva da Silva  1 , Priscila Arruda da Silva  1 , Lauro Miranda Demenech  1 , Maria Eduarda Centena Duarte Vieira  2 , Lucas Neiva Silva  1 , Samuel Carvalho Dumith  1
Affiliations

Suicide risk in high school students: who are the most vulnerable groups?

Laura Silva da Silva et al. Rev Paul Pediatr. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with suicide risk among high school students from a federal educational institution in Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on a census of students (n=510) enrolled in IFRS, campus Rio Grande, in the second half of 2019. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Suicide risk was measured with the instrument Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and data were analyzed using Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment.

Results: The prevalence of high suicide risk was 17.3% (95% confidence interval - 95%CI 14.0-20.0), with the following independent associated factors: female gender, higher socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption, less social support, attempt to lose weight, self-harm behavior, and increased risk of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Conclusions: One in six students showed a high suicide risk. The identification of factors associated with the outcome is useful for detecting the most severe cases and referring them to specialized care.

Objetivo:: Investigar a prevalência e os fatores associados ao risco de suicídio em estudantes do ensino médio de uma instituição federal de ensino do Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS).

Métodos:: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com base em um censo de estudantes (n=510) matriculados no IFRS, Campus Rio Grande, no segundo semestre de 2019. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário autoaplicável. O risco de suicídio foi medido com o instrumento Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview e a análise dos dados foi conduzida por meio de regressão de Poisson com ajuste robusto da variância.

Resultados:: A prevalência do risco alto de suicídio foi de 17,3% (intervalo de confiança — IC95% 14,0–20,0), tendo como fatores independentemente associados: sexo feminino, maior nível socioeconômico, consumo de álcool, menor suporte social, tentativa de perder peso, comportamento autolesivo e maior risco de depressão, ansiedade e estresse.

Conclusões:: Um em cada seis estudantes apresentou elevado risco de suicídio. A identificação dos fatores associados ao desfecho é útil para identificar os casos mais graves e encaminhá-los para atendimento especializado.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interests

The authors declare there is no conflict of interests.

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