Suicidal Ideation, Emotional Well-being, and Barriers to Help-Seeking Among Medical Students in Western Uttar Pradesh: A Mixed-Methods Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47203/IJCH.2026.v38i03.007Keywords:
medical students, help seeking behaviour, mental health, suicidal ideationAbstract
Background: Medical students experience substantial academic and psychosocial stressors that increase vulnerability to suicidal ideation. Evidence from Indian medical colleges using validated measures and adjusted analyses remains limited.
Methods: A convergent mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 medical students at UPUMS, Saifai, Uttar Pradesh. Twelve-month suicidal ideation was assessed using item 2 of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). Emotional well-being was measured using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of suicidal ideation. Open-ended responses from students reporting suicidal ideation were analyzed thematically to explore barriers to help-seeking.
Results: The prevalence of 12-month suicidal ideation was 20.5% (82/400). Lower WHO-5 scores were strongly associated with suicidal ideation (AOR 0.96 per unit increase, 95% CI 0.94-0.97; p<0.001), indicating a protective effect of better emotional well-being. Hostel residence was independently associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation (AOR 1.87, 95% CI 1.02-3.42; p=0.043). Male gender showed a borderline association (AOR 1.61, 95% CI 0.98-2.65; p=0.061). Although 53.5% of students were aware of campus mental health services, only 19.5% had ever used them. Five themes emerged as barriers to help-seeking: stigma, confidentiality concerns, perceived academic consequences, structural access barriers, and emotional avoidance.
Conclusions: One in five medical students reported suicidal ideation. Lower emotional well-being was the strongest modifiable predictor, while substantial barriers continue to limit service utilization. Routine WHO-5 screening and confidential counseling pathways should be integrated into medical college policy.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr Amit Kumar (Author); Anurag Verma (Corresponding Author); Dr Swati, Nikhil Bharti, Dr Sandip Kumar, Dr Parul Roy, Dr Hira Kant Sinha (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
