Exploring the prevalence and determinants of the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts among university students

Background and Aims: Depression and suicidal ideation possess a serious threat on university students. It’s important to find out the epidemiology of depression and suicidal ideation among university student. The aim of the present study was to find out the prevalence and associated factors of depression and suicidal ideation among university students of Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 315 students were recruited using multistage random sampling. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information. The questionnaire consists of socio-demographic variables and KUDS scale to measure depression risk (Kutcher’s KADS). For the factor analysis in this study, the χ2-test was used. Results: Of the participants, 51.75% were males and 48.25% were females with a mean age of 21.99 years. 66% of the participants reported their thought about suicide, and 47.62% were at risk for experiencing depression. Nevertheless, the analysis of the determinants, including socio-demographic characteristics, did not reveal any statistically significant difference with a risk of depression. Conclusion: In accordance with these findings, university student’s susceptibility to depression may change over time and be impacted by a wide range of factors. This emphasizes the relevance of continuous mental health evaluation and assistance in educational settings.