Suicidal ideations among students attending vocational school in Germany: a cross-sectional study to identify prevalence and associated risk factors

Abstract

Abstract Aim Even though students attending vocational school are very vulnerable to the development of mental health problems, few studies identify the correlation between suicidal ideations and vocational education. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence and associated risk factors for suicidal ideations among vocational students in Germany. Methods We conducted a cross sectional survey with a total of 555 pupils. The pupils received a standardized questionnaire, assessing sociodemographic data, the use of protective factors, possible risk factors, traits for neuroticism and depressive symptoms. For our study, we excluded item 9 from the Beck depression index (BDI-II) to identify the prevalence of suicidal ideation. Results Our results show that the prevalence of suicidal ideation among students attending vocational school is 23.2%. A combination of feeling lonely, male sex, low importance of religion, little time for hobbies and BMI scores outside the norm show the highest risk for suicidal ideation and can be identified as significant predictors. Conclusion This cross-sectional study highlights the mental burden vocational students in Germany are confronted with and underlines the necessity of paying special attention to this group of young adults. Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity of further studies on this topic, especially including larger student populations. The results should be used to decrease the significant loss of life caused by suicidal behavior in young adults.