Prevalence and social determinants of suicidal ideation among Brazilian public high school students

• Autor(a) principal: Vieira Garcia, Marcos Roberto
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: dos Santos Barros, Cláudia Renata, Facciola Paiva, Vera Silvia, Corrochano, Maria Carla, Barbosa, Djalma, de Souza Machado dos Reis, Nathália, Silva Plácido, Diego
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng; por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2022.8.2.250
• topic: Determinantes sociais da saúde; Discriminação social; Estudantes; Ideação suicida; Saúde mental; Estudo transversal; Mental health; Social determinants of health; Social discrimination; Students; Suicidal ideation; Cross-sectional study

Background and Aim: Recent studies have shown an increase in suicidal ideation and behaviors among youths, highlighting solid associations between being poor, being female, being LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender), and suffering discrimination at school and on the internet. Although the social determinants of suicidal ideation are widely debated worldwide, there is a lack of data on these topics concerning young Brazilians. The present study aimed to contribute to filling this gap. Method: The cross-sectional study used a convenience sample of 475 senior high school students (16–17 y-old) from nine public schools in São Paulo, Brazil. Results: Of the total interviewed, 224 reported lifetime suicidal ideation, an unexpectedly high prevalence (47.2%). In the multiple analysis with an estimated adjusted prevalence ratio (PR), same-sex or bisexual attraction (PR = 1.87; 95%CI: 1.5–2.3), studying in night schools (PR = 1.36; 95%CI: 1.1–1.6) — indicative of lower economic status — and being discriminated against at school (PR = 1.22; 95%CI: 1.0–1.5) and on the internet (PR = 1.48; 95%CI: 1.2–1.8) were positively associated with lifetime suicidal ideation. The students' self-defined race/ethnicity and gender were not. Conclusions: The results indicate the need to consider the social determinants of mental health in the public debate and intervention programs aimed at youth in Brazil and elsewhere. Enhancing mental health promotion while considering the sociopolitical determinants of health should be a strategic and political priority. It is crucial to have a comprehensive intersectional perspective that reflects on the various forms of domination and how these connect with mental distress and its consequences.