Prevalence and risk factors of suicide and their correlation with depression and anxiety among medical students: a Saudi multicenter study

Prevalence and risk factors of mental disorders in a cross-sectional study of adolescents in South China

The mental health of adolescents is a critical global public health priority. This large-scale, cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, along with their key associated risk factors, among school-attending adolescents in South China. An online anonymous survey utilizing the validated Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and the Mental Health Test (MHT) was administered to 23,856 students (mean age = 13.57 ± 1.94 years) from primary, middle, and high schools. The results revealed concerning prevalence rates of mild-to-extreme symptoms: 27.9% for anxiety, 25.15% for depression, and 7.63% for stress. Severe study pressure (reported by 52%), loneliness (59%), and poor social relationships (50%) were identified as the predominant risk factors, with multivariate logistic regression confirming their significant associations with worse mental health outcomes (ORs ranging from 1.74 to 1.95). This large-scale study quantifies high anxiety and depression prevalence among South Chinese adolescents, identifying study pressure, loneliness, social difficulties, and self-harm as key modifiable risk factors. This study calls for school-based mental health interventions and provides timely empirical evidence to promote student well-being.

High Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation and Associated Risk Factors Among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Study.

Epidemiology and structure of depressive disorders among medical students

Introduction   .  Depressive disorders are a significant medical and social issue, particularly among young people, including medical students, due to high academic loads and stressful factors. Objective  . To determine the prevalence and structure of depressive symptoms among students of the International Medical Institute of Kursk State Medical University (IMI KSMU). Materials and methods   .  A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2025 involving 60 students aged 18–25 years. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess the level of depression, and the data were processed using descriptive statistics. Results   .  Mild depression (5–9 points) was found in 40 % of respondents, moderate (10–14 points) in 23 %, and severe or very severe forms (15–27 points) in 22 %, while only 15 % of participants had no significant symptoms (0–4 points). The most common symptoms were low mood, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances. Suicidal thoughts were reported by 6.7 % of the respondents. Conclusion   .  The findings indicate a high level of emotional distress among students and highlight the need for implementing psychological support programs, resilience training, and prevention of depressive states in academic settings.

Prevalence and risk factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among secondary school students in Abha city, Saudi Arabia

Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental stage associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and stress, which can adversely affect academic performance and quality of life. Despite growing concern about adolescent mental health in Saudi Arabia, evidence among secondary school students remains limited. This study assessed the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress among secondary school students in Abha City and identified associated sociodemographic and family-related factors. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 400 male and female secondary school students from governmental schools in Abha City, Saudi Arabia, between October and December 2025. Participants were selected using multistage stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and the validated Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using R version 4.4.3, with statistical significance set at p  < 0.05. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 39.0%, 53.5%, and 38.3%, respectively. Moderate-to-severe symptoms were observed in a substantial proportion of students. Female students had significantly higher rates of all three outcomes ( p  < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression identified female sex and smoking as independent predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress. Chronic disease and a positive family history of psychiatric disorders were independently associated with depression and stress, whereas increasing family size was associated with lower odds of stress. Maternal employment was independently associated with anxiety, whereas parents not living together were independently associated with depression. Secondary school students in Abha City experience a high burden of depression, anxiety, and stress, with anxiety being the most prevalent condition. Female sex, smoking, chronic disease, family history of psychiatric disorders, family size, maternal employment, and parental marital status were independently associated with psychological distress. These findings support routine school-based mental health screening, early identification of high-risk students, and targeted psychological support and health promotion programs.

The Prevalence of Depression and Suicidal Behavior among Emerging Adult Male University Students in Malawi

Suicide rates among Malawian men aged between 20- and 39-years have consistently outnumbered their female counterparts at a ratio of approximately 8:1, with depression being identified as the leading risk factor for suicide. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and suicidal behavior among emerging adult male students at the University of Malawi (UNIMA). Emerging adulthood is an age group with numerous intersecting life challenges that can negatively impact mental health, and studies report university students to be at higher risk than the general population of developing mental disorders such as depression. This study employed a quantitative research method, using a cross-sectional correlational research design. Data were collected from 338 male undergraduates using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory – II (BDI-II) and the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire – Revised (SBQ-R). Data were analyzed using Stata 17 and the study findings revealed a prevalence of 33.7% for depression and 18.1% for suicidal behavior risk among emerging adult male students of UNIMA, with no statistically significant association between depression scores and academic school or year of study. The study recommends institutionalized mental health screening, more accessible counselling services, and campus-wide suicide prevention programs within institutions of higher learning in Malawi.

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Medical Students: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Medical education is not only stressful environment but notoriously rigorous, often predisposing medical students to significant amount of psychological distress. Mental health issues among medical students can contribute negative impact in both personal well-being and professional development. Aims: To assess the levels of stress, anxiety and depression among medical students and evaluate their associations with socio demographic factors and academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 143 medical students enrolled at a medical college. Data regarding socio-demographic characteristics, academic satisfaction, and levels of psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression) were collected. Data analysis was performed using statistical software, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant to determine associations between variables. Results: Of the 143 participants, the majority were aged 21–25 years (65.7%), male (76.9%), and unmarried (97.9%), and resided in hostels (90.2%). Non-clinical students constituted 51.7% of the sample, and 67.8% reported satisfaction with their academic performance. Psychological distress was prevalent: 30.8% experienced stress (ranging from mild to extremely severe), 62.9% suffered from anxiety, and 48.3% reported depression. Extremely severe anxiety was notably high at 18.9%. Bivariate analysis revealed that anxiety levels were significantly associated with marital status (p = 0.022) and the level of education (p = 0.016), with non-clinical students experiencing higher rates of severe (9.5%) and extremely severe (28.4%) anxiety compared to clinical students. No statistically significant associations were observed between potential risk factors and stress (p > 0.05) or depression (p > 0.05). However, descriptive trends indicated higher psychological distress among students with unsatisfactory academic performance, younger age (≤ 20 years), and those in non-clinical years. Conclusion: Psychological distress particularly anxiety and depression is highly prevalent among medical students, with non-clinical students showing significantly higher vulnerability to severe anxiety. These findings highlight an urgent need for institutional mental health screening, stress management interventions, and robust academic support systems, particularly during the transitional non-clinical years of medical training.