Psychosocial Predictors of Suicide Risk in Medical Students

In Mexico, suicides occur every 90 min. It ranks second among 15–19-year-olds and fifth among 10–14-year-olds, underlining the need for targeted prevention strategies. Both practicing doctors and medical students are among the groups with the highest risk of suicide. The results of our path model analysis of suicide risk show that depression and emotional dysregulation are key predictors of suicide risk. Early detection and care programs should be implemented for students with this mental disorder. In Mexican medical male students, interventions must include techniques to address the emotional dysregulation strategy of denial, while in females they should also incorporate the emotional dysregulation strategy of suppression.