Stress and suicidal thoughts in adolescents

Database of the project based on SEYLE methodology aimed to evaluate adolescents’ mental health (n=589) was analyzed to establish associations between suicidal tendencies and stress. Approximately one-third of adolescents report experiencing significant stress caused by five or more negative life events (NLE) for a period six months from the date of interview. NLE endorsed most frequently are associated with academic overload, familial problems, and issues in interpersonal relationships (conflicts/disputes, breakups). About 50% of adolescents report experiencing stress in the form of perceived stress (feeling tense, restless, nervous, worried or unfocused) with varying frequency. Analyses reveal NLE are positively correlated with perceived stress, but associations between variables are far more complex. Based on these associations, adolescents were divided into four subgroups. A significant trend was observed in the subgroup who reported high levels of perceived stress without clear objective reasons (minimal NLE). Members of this subgroup report a high intensity of suicidal ideation that is statistically similar to that of adolescents with both high perceived and objective stress. Therefore, perceived stress is observed to be associated with suicidality at the same rate as experiencing multiple NLE. Moreover, reported priority of NLE does not reflect their influence on suicidal ideation. Suicidal thoughts are closely associated with more rare events related to family conflict, interpersonal relationships, and illness and/or death of a significant person.