[Prevalence and factors associated with suicidal thinking among university students].
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the prevalence of suicidal ideation in a population of university students, to characterize groups in connection with ideation and suicidal behavior, and to determine the variables associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.


METHODS
Observational, analytic and cross-sectional study of a probabilistic sample of the population studied. An instrument for measuring suicide risk and associated variables was applied to this sample.


RESULTS
The prevalence of the current suicidal ideation was 3.6%, and 18% in the last year. Both suicidal ideation and history of suicide attempts were higher among female students. Rape history, being alone more than eight hours a day, and female gender were the factors more strongly related to suicidal ideation. A relationship suicidal ideation and awareness of the suicide of others was not found in this sample.


CONCLUSIONS
A history of rape, remaining alone for more than eight hours during the day, and being a woman should alert the clinician about the possibility of suicidal ideation. It is recommended to explore and assess suicidal ideation in all people with these factors.
Calvo
José M
JM
Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. jmcalvog@bacata.usc.unal.edu.co
Sánchez
Ricardo
R
Tejada
Paola A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities