In 2024, 547 people died by suicide in Catalonia, according to data published by the INE, of whom 53 were young people between 15 and 29 years old. Although this figure has decreased compared to 2023 (66), the indicators related to suicidal behaviors in this age group are concerning: 25.9% of young people between 16 and 22 years old report self-harm, 30.6% have had suicidal thoughts, and 10.6% have attempted suicide.
The study Suicidal behaviors among young students in Catalonia: risk factors and protection, from the Social Observatory of the “la Caixa” Foundation, conducted by researchers from Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu and the Institut de Recerca SJD Judith Usall i Rodié and Regina Vila Badia.
The study was conducted during 2024 and 2025 through an online questionnaire which involved the participation of 3,159 young students of secondary school, vocational training, adult schools and universities. Aged between 16 and 22, they all reside in Catalonia.
The main objective of the research is to study the prevalence of suicidal behaviors in young people, explore what the social and psychological variables relevant to explaining them are, and determine differences in terms of gender. There is concern about the increase in suicidal behaviors among young people, as death by suicide has become one of the leading causes of unnatural death in this age group.
“Following the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in distress among young people; in the past four years, we have gone from 3.9% to 14.3% of hospital admissions with mental health problems in people aged 10 to 19,” assured Regina Vila Badia, principal investigator of the study and postdoctoral psychologist at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu and the Institut de Recerca SJD.
The data confirms that **there is great distress in the young population** and that, according to the researchers, this is evidenced by a high prevalence of suicidal behaviors: **”1 in 3 people has thought about suicide and 1 in 10 has made an attempt throughout their life,”** says the psychologist, according to the study results.
This increase in mental health problems may have been influenced by **multiple factors**. Among the most relevant, we see that 31.5% of young people surveyed have suffered bullying, 31.1% have experienced the separation of their parents, and 20.4% have been exposed to violence in relationships, circumstances that may have affected their well-being. In addition, difficult family situations may have also influenced them, such as economic difficulties in the family environment (19.2%) or the loss of a first-degree relative (10.1%).
How does gender affect this?
There are important differences regarding sex in relation to suicidal behaviors. As Regina Vila Badia has highlighted, “girls present more emotional distress and higher levels of anxiety and depression, as well as greater impulsivity and a feeling of loneliness compared to boys.”
As can be seen in the following graph, both suicidal ideation and self-harm are 10 to 19% higher in women than in men, and this may be caused by less social support, lower resilience, and lower life satisfaction. Furthermore, as the researchers indicate, women have experienced more sexual and emotional abuse, and feel more alone, factors that may be determinants in understanding these results.
The importance of preventive factors
There are many factors that contribute to suicidal behavior, but according to researchers, it is also very important to value protective factors. Having social support, being resilient, being satisfied with what they do, or having a stimulating educational environment can protect and favor the emotional well-being of young people.
In this regard, social support, understood as the perception of having a network of significant people who offer emotional, practical and communicative help, is key to reducing the risk of these behaviors.
According to the results of the study Suicidal behaviors among young students in Catalonia: risk and protective factors, social support is significantly lower in young people who have had suicidal ideation or who have attempted suicide, 11% and 17% less, respectively. And the same happens with young people who have lower resilience, understood as the ability to cope with difficult experiences and adapt positively. This is 8% and 11% less in people with thoughts and attempts at suicide, as observed in the following graph, compared to young people who have never had suicidal behaviors.
Use of social networks: in the spotlight
One of the factors the study wanted to delve into was the influence of social media on the emotional distress of young people.
According to the results, of the young people surveyed, only 4.1% consider that they use social media problematically, 51.7% confirm that they see or have seen pornography, and 17.4% play gambling games, all of which are behaviors that can intensify their emotional distress. Furthermore, among young people who exhibit suicidal behaviors (thought or attempt) there is an increase of between 6 and 8% in problematic social media use.
Statements from Judith Usall, psychiatrist and head of the MERITT research group at the San Juan de Dios Health Park, and Regina Vila Badia, postdoctoral psychology fellow of the MERITT group at the San Juan de Dios Health Park and the SJD Institute of Research.© “la Caixa” Foundation
«Social media is a major concern regarding mental health issues. However, in our study, **we do not see a** **direct relationship between its use and emotional distress**, but rather that its use reinforces that feeling», points out Regina Vila, one of the main researchers, although the psychologist specifies: «Once distress is present, the fact of using social media in a problematic way can lead to its increase».
According to the researchers, to reduce the risk of suicidal behaviors, it is **key to reinforce** social support, resilience, and healthy use of social networks at school, at home, and in the community. «What has surprised us the most in the interviews is that **m**ajority of people have not asked for help, even people who have made an attempt have not commented on it, and this is very relevant,» concludes Regina Vila Badia, researcher at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu and Institut de Recerca SJD. That is why it is so important that **w**e learn to ask them in order to better help and accompany them.
**Fundación la Caixa**
Religion Digital
English version translated with AI