ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents
and Associated Risk Factors: An Example from Turkey
Sevgi Canbaz
.
O
¨
zlem Terzi
Received: March 7, 2018 / Published online: June 5, 2018
Ó Springer Healthcare Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2018
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Identifying risk factors is impor-
tant in intervening in suicide, which is a pre-
ventable cause of death in adolescents. The aim
of the present study was to evaluate the preva-
lence of suicidal ideation and risk factors for
suicidal thought in high school students aged
15–18 years.
Methods: The data were obtained from ques-
tionnaire forms administered to 2438 high
school students aged 15–18 years. Risk factors
that might be associated with suicidal thought
were identified using logistic regression
analysis.
Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation in
adolescents in the last 12 months was 17.9%.
Being female [OR 1.95, (CI 95% 1.47–2.59)], use
of alcohol [OR 2.44, (CI 95% 1.63–3.68)] and
addictive drugs [OR 1.78, (CI 95% 1.07–2.97)],
being in physical fights [OR 1.76, (CI 95%
1.34–2.32)], having no close friends [OR 2.17,
(CI 95% 1.34–3.52)], bullying(victimization)
[OR 1.99, (CI 95% 1.43–2.77)], and other
psychosocial distress were significant risk fac-
tors in the development of suicidal ideation.
Conclusions: Solutions for decreasing risky
behaviors for health, particularly the use of
alcohol and addictive drugs, prevention of vio-
lence between peers, and strengthening of
social relationships, must be developed.
Keywords: Adolescent health; High school
students; Suicidal ideation; Turkey
INTRODUCTION
Suicidal behavior involves three concepts, one
of which is suidical ideation, which is to think
about ending one’s life but not actually mak-
ing plans to do so; a suicide attempt involves
behaviors towards ending one’s life that does
not result in death, and completed suicide is
the voluntary act of ending one’s life, which
results in death [1].
Suicide is an important problem worldwide.
According to estimates of the World Health
Organization, one million people die as a
result of suicide around the world every year.
On the other hand, for every suicide, there are
many more people who attempt suicide each
year, which is why suicide remains a signifi-
cant social and public health problem. The
disease burden of suicide has been estimated
to increase to 2.4% in 2020 [2]. Adolescence is
considered as the transition period from
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S. Canbaz (&) Á O
¨
. Terzi
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine,
Ondokuz Mayis University, Atakum, 55200 Samsun,
Turkey
e-mail: sevgic@omu.edu.tr
Adv Ther (2018) 35:839–846
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-018-0720-2
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