A new study by Jonatan Baños-Chaparro, Daniel Jesús López-Vega and Paul Ynquillay-Lima sheds light on the complexity of suicidal ideation in Peruvian adolescents, highlighting the importance of addressing both passive and active thoughts for a complete risk assessment of suicide in this population.
The study, which included the participation of 1,444 Peruvian adolescents between 11 and 19 years old, revealed that passive suicidal ideation, characterized by desires not to exist and the belief of not deserving to live, was intrinsically related to active suicidal ideation, which included thoughts of suicide and harming yourself.
The results, obtained through a network model, identified the most central nodes of suicidal ideation, highlighting the desire not to exist, believing that life was not worth living, and thoughts of committing suicide as the most significant elements. These results underline the importance of evaluating suicidal ideation as a whole, considering both passive and active aspects.
A notable finding was that, regardless of sex, the desire not to exist had the highest centrality in the suicidal ideation network. However, gender differences were observed in the association with active suicidal ideation, as men showed a greater association with thoughts of committing suicide compared to women.
The relevance of considering these gender differences when evaluating the severity of suicidal ideation in psychological interviews and psychotherapeutic activities during adolescence is emphasized.
This study provides valuable information for mental health professionals and highlights the need to take a comprehensive approach when assessing suicide risk in adolescents. Early identification and addressing suicidal thoughts, both passive and active, are essential to ensure effective interventions and the preservation of psychological well-being at this crucial stage of development.