Suicides in the university students - what we know and what we do not know (based on the online news media reports)

University students often act as respondents in various studies of suicidal tendencies, for example, in order to identify the severity of suicidal experiences, assess suicidal risk in various stressful situations, and identify psychological and psychopathological correlates of risk. However, there is no information on the frequency of completed suicides among this contingent in Russia, since official statistics take into account only the age category, but not the particular social group they belong to. At the same time, this group undoubtedly has its own characteristics, associated primarily with the so-called academic stress which is caused by a complex of specific factors of the university environment, and some other risk factors among student youth (interpersonal relationships, alcohol and psychoactive substance consumption, stress big city, etc.). Aim of the study. To assess, according to online media, the prevalence and main characteristics of suicide attempters (gender, age, reasons for suicide, geography, university) among students and graduate students. Materials and methods. It is the first time, according to online media, when an analysis of suicide cases among students of Russian universities was carried out. In total, 188 reports of suicides of undergraduate and graduate students (aged from 17 to 32) were analyzed for the period from January 01, 2015 to July 31, 2021. The percentage distribution of cases by groups of interest was estimated, and indices were calculated per 10,000 and per 100,000 people. Results. The dynamics over the years testifies the stable nature of this phenomenon in recent years. Of those killed with their own hands during this period, 75.5% are men, 24.5% are women. Sex-age distribution is typical for young people suicides. The most vulnerable group are men aged 18-20. At the same time, some characteristics of this group distinguish them from suicide attempters in the general population. For example, among suicide methods the first place is taken by falling from a height (39%) followed by hanging (23%). In addition, the seasonality of events (an increase in cases in December-January period, a sharp decline in summer, an increase in October) speaks more about the contribution of the "university situation" (academic or educational stress) to the determination of suicidal behavior of students than about the influence of the usual factors that determine fluctuations in throughout the year. The largest share of cases was observed in large metropolitan universities and large federal universities, the same relationship remains when calculating indices per 10,000 students. Conclusions. The suicides of students as a separate group are hidden from statistical records and require additional research in order to identify an objective picture. The data of the online media is incomplete, however, with all the limitations, they make it possible to see the whole picture of student suicides. The results obtained are the basis for discussing the development and implementation of a set of measures by universities, families and society as a whole, aimed at preventing suicide among students.