title: Prevalence and predictors of suicidal ideations among school going adolescents in a hilly state of India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescent suicide is an important public health issue. Suicidal ideations are often the precursor of suicide and can be targeted by appropriate and timely interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of suicide ideation and to study its predictive factors among school going adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was carried out in selected senior secondary schools in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, India. A pre-validated, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied using Epi info software for windows (CDC Atlanta) software for windows.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 218 study subjects (30.9%; confidence interval = 27.6-34.5%) had suicide ideation. Discussing problems with parents (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =0.5), having good relations with school teachers (AOR = 0.6) and helpful classmates (AOR = 0.6) lowered the odds of having suicidal ideations. On the contrary, adolescents having worrying issues in family (AOR = 2.5), verbally or physically abused (AOR = 2.8) and body image conscious (AOR = 1.8) had increased odds of suicidal ideations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suicidal ideation is a common experience among adolescents residing in Shimla district of North India. The supportive environment at home and in school decrease its vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Durgesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anmol
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Salig Ram
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mazta
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma
keywords: Adolescents; predictors; suicidal ideation