Exploration of the risk of suicidal ideation in medical students from the northeas of Argentine

Abstract

Introduction: Knowledge of this problem in our environment is limited. Objectives: To explore suicidal orientation in medical students in northeastern Argentina in August 2021. Method: Exploratory scope study, descriptive cross-sectional design with non-probabilistic sampling. The Suicidal Orientations ISO-30 inventory of King & Kowalchuk (1994) was used, adapted at the University of Buenos Aires in 1998 by Casullo and Fernandez Liporace (2006), in 312 medical students from northeastern Argentina. Results: It was found that 25% of the students surveyed indicate a high risk, 21% a moderate risk, and 54% a low risk. Substance use is observed as a risk factor that increases with the passing of years of studies, establishing an inverse relationship with the high risk of suicide. Discussion: Based on the results obtained, it can be pointed out that the risk of suicidal ideation is present in the students surveyed. It is considered that they reflect part of this alarming phenomenon worldwide, which is why it is believed appropriate to approach it from a basically preventive modality. Conclusion: It is pertinent that academic environments establish early detection and intervention programs that allow improving emotional well-being and reducing the probability of occurrence of outcomes.