Why do some young people have suicidal thoughts?
Summary
Suicidal behavior in young people is a major public health problem worldwide. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents and young adults, which has experienced a worrying increase in recent decades.
But suicide doesn't appear suddenly. It's usually part of a process that can begin with:
- Passive thoughts about death.
- Suicidal thoughts.
- Suicide attempts.
Most young people who have suicidal thoughts do not actually attempt it, but there is a group that does evolve towards more serious behaviors. Understanding what makes this difference is key to prevention.
The study Suicidal Behaviors among Young Students in Catalonia: Risk and Protection Factors (PROSIA-Y), carried out by the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu with funding from the “la Caixa” Social Observatory, helps to better understand which factors may be related. The study was conducted with 3,403 young people in Catalonia between 16 and 29 years old, from diverse urban and rural contexts, in order to have a fairly representative image of the reality of young people.
How common is suicidal thoughts in young people?
The results of the study show that thoughts and behaviors related to suicide are relatively common among young people:
- 31.5% have had suicidal ideation throughout their lives.
- 10.8% have attempted suicide.
- 25.9% have presented self-harm behaviors without the intention of dying.
As in other studies, suicidal thoughts are much more common than attempts . In this case, approximately one in three young people with suicidal ideation had also made an attempt. It was also observed that these situations were more common in women than in men.
The sum and interaction of several factors
The central message is this: suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people do not usually appear due to a single cause. Rather, they are explained as the sum and interaction of different factors .
In general, these factors have to do with:
- Life experiences , especially difficult experiences in childhood (such as emotional abuse or neglect).
- Current emotional state , especially symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Social relationships , such as loneliness or feeling disconnected from others.
- Family context , including support, communication and the emotional climate at home.
This helps to understand why it is so difficult to predict who will make a suicide attempt by looking at just one factor.
Suicidal behavior in young people is explained as the sum and interaction of different factors related to difficult experiences in childhood, current emotional state, social relationships and family context.
What are the main risk factors for suicidal thinking and behavior?
Childhood experiences
One of the most consistent results is the weight of adverse experiences during childhood, especially:
- Emotional abuse (humiliation, contempt, insults, making people feel worthless or unlovable) was especially important in explaining suicidal thoughts.
- Physical neglect (lack of basic care, significant neglect). It appeared as a very prominent factor when talking about suicide attempts (going from thinking about it to taking a step).
In other words, what we experience as children can leave an imprint on how we value ourselves, how we regulate emotions and how we ask for help.
Anxiety and depression
Anxiety symptoms appear as one of the most important factors in both suicidal ideation and attempts. It is the central factor when viewed as a whole, since it is an element that connects with many others and can "activate" or maintain the risk. This does not mean that anxiety "causes" suicide, but, when intense and sustained, it can increase discomfort and the feeling of having no way out . Anxiety can increase:
- The feeling of constant anxiety.
- Difficulty regulating emotions.
- The feeling of wanting to escape the discomfort.
On the other hand, depression and having a mental health diagnosis are also associated with greater risk.
Loneliness and social disconnection
The feeling of loneliness plays a very important role, especially in the emergence of suicidal thoughts. Loneliness here is not just being alone, but feeling that no one is available , that I don't fit in, or that I am a burden.
Research suggests that loneliness can act as a bridge between difficult past experiences and current emotional problems. When a person feels disconnected, it can increase feelings of not belonging or being a burden to others.
Preventing youth suicide: it concerns us all
Protective factors: support and satisfaction with life
A particularly relevant part of the study is that it not only looks at risk factors, but also what can protect young people from suicidal thoughts and behaviors . Some important protective elements are:
- Perceived social support. This doesn't mean having many friends, but having at least one or two people you feel safe talking to. Feeling heard and understood can make a big difference in times of crisis.
- A good family climate (cohesion, ability to adapt to changes, emotional support). These are not "perfect" families, but environments where there is emotional communication, availability and the ability to repair conflicts.
- Satisfaction with life. It does not mean always being well, but being able to identify things that give meaning to day-to-day life, such as relationships, studies, projects, hobbies or personal goals. In other words, feeling that life has meaning or that there are things that are worthwhile.
Loneliness can act as a bridge between difficult experiences in the past and current emotional problems. When a person feels disconnected, it can increase the feeling of not belonging or being a burden to others.
When these factors are present, they can act as a cushion against emotional distress and reduce the likelihood that suicidal thoughts will appear or persist. These results remind us that suicide prevention is not just about reducing distress , but also about strengthening bonds , social support, and meaning in life.
What can we do to prevent suicidal behavior?
These results reinforce the idea that suicide prevention in young people cannot focus on just one factor. To be effective, it must be comprehensive and act in different areas at the same time : family, emotional, social and community.
Early prevention
One of the clearest ideas from the study is the importance of detecting risk situations from childhood in order to intervene before the discomfort becomes chronic. Some factors that can increase vulnerability in the long term are:
- Very conflictive family environments.
- Situations of abuse or neglect.
- Early emotional difficulties.
Supporting families is also key. Prevention is not just about identifying risk, but also about helping to create safe, stable and emotionally protective environments, with good communication and emotional support.
Suicide prevention in young people cannot focus on just one factor and must act in different areas at the same time: family, emotional, social and community.
Early detection and treatment of emotional problems
The study shows that current emotional symptoms, especially anxiety and depression, play a very important role. Early detection and treatment of anxiety, depression and emotional regulation problems can reduce the risk of distress evolving into more serious suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
This reinforces the importance of normalizing seeking psychological help and offering accessible resources for adolescents and young people.
Working on social connection
Connection with others is one of the most important protective factors . Interventions that promote a sense of belonging, social support, and quality relationships can reduce the risk of suicidal thoughts and help young people better manage distress.
In many cases, it is not so much about increasing the number of relationships, but rather about improving the quality of the bonds and ensuring that the young person has at least one person with whom they feel safe to talk.
Questions
