Stress and suicidal ideas in adolescent students in Chandigarh.
OBJECTIVE
School students in India have a high stress level and high rate of deliberate self-harm. The present study was conducted to find out stress, psychological health, and presence of suicidal ideas in school students and to find out any correlation between these variables.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study conducted on school students in urban area of Chandigarh city.


METHODS
Data was collected on 2402 students from classes VII to XII on socio-demographic scale, 12-item general health questionnaire, Mooney problem checklist, and suicide risk eleven -a visual analogue scale. Statistical analysis used was chi square and Spearman's correlation.


RESULTS
Out of 2402 students, 1078 (45.8%) had psychological problems, half (1201 students) perceived problems in their role as students, 930 (45%) reported academic decline, 180 (8.82%) students reported that life was a burden, 122 (6%) reported suicidal ideas and 8 (0.39%) students reported suicidal attempt. There was significant correlation between student's perception of life as a burden and class they were studying, mother's working status, psychological problems and problems students experienced in relation to study, peers, future planning and with parents.


CONCLUSIONS
Students with academic problems and unsupportive environment at home perceived life as a burden and had higher rates of suicidal ideations.
Arun
Priti
P
Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India. drpritiarun@gmail.com
Chavan
B S
BS
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention