Cross-sectional study about suicide ideation and attempts among Brazilian pre-adolescents.

Background: Suicide is a global public health problem. In childhood, the risk factors are less clear, highlighting family and individual factors. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and sociodemographic, social, family, and individual factors associated with suicide ideation and attempts in pre-adolescents in a Brazilian city.

Methods: The sample comes from a cohort of 500 schoolchildren of a city in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. The data are analyzed cross-sectionally. The research incorporated data from the years 2005, 2006, and 2008 to evaluate suicide ideation and attempts in childhood, as reported by parents/caregivers, teachers and children. A hierarchical logistic model evaluated the association between the explanatory variables related to sociodemographic, social, family, and individual factors and the outcome.

Results: 22.2% of the children (95% CI 18.0%-27.0%) had suicide ideation/attempts, reported either by their mothers, teachers, or the child at some point in a cohort. The following variables were associated with suicidal ideation/attempts in the final adjusted model: regular or poor quality of relationship with friends (OR = 1.84; 95% CI 1.31-2.58), having a family member incarcerated (OR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.07-1.92) and having worse performance in portuguese or mathematics than other students (OR = 2.05; 95% CI 1.29-3.26).

Conclusion: Suicidal behavior in childhood is severe and affects everyone around the case, demanding to promote friendships, helping with school activities, and providing greater support and attention to children at risk. Bad relationships with friends and incarcerated family members are particularly key risk factors for suicide ideation and attempts. It is essential to improve prevention policies and to disseminate protective behaviors. There is a critical need to augment community mental health resources, mainly in less developed countries and regions that lack these services.