title: Racial differences in suicidal ideation among school going adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Young adults are at increased risk for suicidal behavior and there is growing concern about racial differences in suicidal ideation, especially in the younger population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to assess suicidal ideation in school going tribal and nontribal adolescents and to study its relationships with psychological well-being, depression, and anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 259 students of Classes X, XI, and XII of three Schools of Ranchi, who fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria, were screened for suicidal ideation by Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ) and psychological well-being by General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). The level of anxiety and depression was assessed by Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 33.2% of the adolescents had suicidal ideation out of which 34.2% were tribal-students and 32.8% nontribal-students with no significant intergroup difference. Psychological discomfort (GHQ-12 Score ≥3) was noticed in 59.1% of adolescents, but no racial difference was found. However, the mean HADS depression score was significantly higher in tribal adolescents, more so in tribal boys than nontribal adolescents or boys, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation of SIQ total score in all the adolescents with GHQ-12 total score, HADS total score, HADS anxiety score, and HADS depression score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no racial differences in suicidal ideation and psychological discomfort among tribal and nontribal adolescents. Tribal adolescents, and more specifically tribal boys, had more depression than their nontribal counterparts. Suicidal ideation was positively correlated with psychological discomfort, anxiety, and depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vidhata
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed University), Rural Medical College, Pravaras Rural Hospital, Loni, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Suprakash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhury
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kenswar
keywords: Adolescents; anxiety; depression; psychological discomfort; race; suicidal ideation