Risk and protective factors of suicidal behavior among college students in Pampanga, Philippines

Background: The world’s fourth leading cause of death among young people is a suicide, a serious public health concern. In the Philippines, there are an increasing number of suicide deaths.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of suicidal behavior among college students in a state university in Pampanga, Philippines, and examine the risk and protective factors most associated with suicidal behavior.

Methods: A cross-sectional study used data from 443 college students obtained through an online survey. 24% of the participants have suicidal ideation, 14% have suicidal plans, and 9% would attempt to commit suicide.

Results: A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that family support and spiritual well-being were protective factors against suicide attempts. On the contrary, depressive symptoms and adverse childhood experiences increased the likelihood of the participants committing suicide.

Discussion: Even though an association does not imply causation, suicide prevention programs and policies would benefit from understanding how family support, spiritual well-being, and suicidal behavior are interconnected. Moreover, treating depressive symptoms and adverse childhood experiences should be integrated into targeted mental health interventions to reduce suicidal behavior.