Background: Suicide and suicidal behaviors were already a global public health problem, producing preventable injuries and deaths. This issue may worsen due to the COVID-19 pandemic and may differentially affect vulnerable groups in the population, including children, adolescents, and young adults. The current study evaluated the association of affective variables (depression, hopelessness, and anxiety), drug use (alcohol, tobacco, and others), emotional intelligence, and attachment with suicidal behaviors. Methods: A state-wide survey included 8033 students (51% female, 49% male; mean age of 16 years) from science and technology high-schools using a standardized questionnaire that was distributed online. Multinomial logistic regression models tested associations between suicidal behaviors and several covariates. The analyses accommodated the complex structure of the sample. Results: Approximately 21% of all students reported a suicidal behavior (11% with a low-lethality suicide attempt, 6% with self-injuries, and 4% with a high-lethality suicide attempt). Variables associated with higher odds of suicidal behavior included: female sex, depression, hopelessness, anxiety, alcohol and tobacco use, childhood trauma, and having to self-rely as issues affecting attachment, and low self-esteem. Security of attachment was associated with lower odds of suicidal behavior. Conclusions: The complexity of suicidal behavior makes it clear that comprehensive programs need to be implemented.

Introduction. Suicide and self-harming behaviors pose a significant challenge to adolescent psychosocial well-being, constituting the fifth leading cause of death worldwide among those aged 10 to19. In Mexico, the suicide rate among adolescents aged 15 to 19 is rising, highlighting the need for preventive interventions. Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of the DBT-MXAU program, a cultural adaptation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills, in reducing suicide risk and improving emotional regulation in Mexican middle school adolescents in urban settings with high social vulnerability. Method. A multicenter, quasi-experimental design with pre-treatment and post-treatment assessments in three states of Mexico. Participants included 60 adolescents aged 13 to 17 (M = 15.23, SD = 1.59), who attended 11, two-hour weekly sessions of the DBT-MXAU program. Results. Findings showed a significant reduction in low and moderate suicide risk levels and improvements in emotional clarity and regulation. Adolescents with high suicide risk reported greater use of DBT skills. However, impact varied across regions. Discussion and conclusion. This study supports the effectiveness of the DBT-MXAU program in reducing low- and moderate-level suicide risks and improving emotional skills in adolescents. The results contribute to the development of evidence-based preventive strategies for urban school contexts in Mexico.

La etapa universitaria es crítica en la incidencia y prevalencia de problemas de salud mental asociados al riesgo de suicidio. Específicamente el estado de Aguascalientes está posicionado, por más de 5 años, en los primeros lugares en tasas de suicidio, con predominancia en jóvenes. Objetivo: estimar la prevalencia de factores psicosociales de riesgo asociados al suicidio en estudiantes universitarios que cursan el primer año de formación universitaria de una institución de educación superior del estado de Aguascalientes, México, dentro del marco del confinamiento derivado de la pandemia por covid-19. Método: estudio exploratorio transversal, con muestreo no probabilístico. Resultados: el 63% presentó al menos un indicador de riesgo en la salud mental, 41% apego inseguro, 39% dificultades en el manejo emocional, 32% riesgos por el uso/abuso de sustancias adictivas, mayor consumo de alcohol y tabaco, y el 20% reportó autolesionarse con la intensión de morir en el último año. Conclusión: el presente estudio evidencia la alta prevalencia de factores psicosociales de riesgo asociados al suicidio en estudiantes universitarios de primer año durante las condiciones del confinamiento parcial derivado del Covid-19. Las estimaciones muestran un posible incremento de los problemas de salud mental y la necesidad de generar estrategias que disminuyan la brecha en salud mental, mismas que han de orientarse a prevenir y corregir el consumo riesgoso de sustancias, la ansiedad y la depresión, informen estrategias de autocuidado, y se establezcan monitoreos constantes ante los posibles de riesgos de suicidio.