Academic life factors and suicidal behavior in university students at a federal institution

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1806-6976.smad.2025.230604

Keywords:

Academic Environment, Emotional Suffering, University Students, Self-Injurious Behavior

Abstract

Objective: to understand the factors within academic life that cause psychological suffering and influence suicidal behavior among university students on the humanities campus of a federal institution. Methodology: qualitative research carried out with 67 university students enrolled in six humanities programs; data were collected using an online form, and data analysis was based on the Content Analysis framework. Results: issues related to adaptation, overwhelming demands, intense competition, interpersonal relationships with peers and professors, lack of representativeness, insufficient student retention policies and, difficulty accessing psychological support proved to be detrimental to mental health and contributed to the development of suicidal behavior. Reports included self-harm, suicidal ideation and attempts associated with the adversities within the academic environment. Conclusion: a connection
was observed between factors and events in the academic environment and the presence of psychological suffering and suicidal behavior in the participants. However, as suicide is a multifactorial phenomenon, it is not possible to attribute responsibility to a single component, in this case, the academic environment.

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Author Biographies

  • João Fernando Marcolan, Universidade Federal de São Paulo,Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

    Possui graduação em Enfermagem pela Escola Paulista de Medicina - Departamento de Enfermagem (1983), mestrado em Enfermagem pela Universidade de São Paulo (1996) e doutorado em Enfermagem pela Universidade de São Paulo (2002). Pós-doutorado pela Faculdade de Saúde Pública da USP (2016). Aposentado em abril de 2019 como professor associado da Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Tem experiência na área de Enfermagem, com ênfase em Saúde Mental, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: saúde mental, enfermagem em saúde mental, assistência psiquiátrica, enfermagem psiquiátrica, depressão e suicídio, saúde mental do trabalhador da saúde, políticas públicas de saúde mental, assistência em saúde mental. Foi chefe da Disciplina Enfermagem em Saúde Mental, coordenador do Projeto de Extensão Atenção em Saúde Mental a Sujeitos com Tentativa de Suicídio, coordenador do curso de especialização em Enfermagem em Saúde Mental e Psiquiátrica, na UNIFESP. Atualmente é orientador do Programa de Pós-graduação em Enfermagem da UNIFESP e coordenador e líder do Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas Interdisciplinares em Saúde Mental - GEPISM. Miembro de la Red Global de Práctica Clínica (RGPC) para Estudios de campo por Internet sobre los Trastornos Mentales y del Comportamiento de la CIE-11 da Organização Mundial da Saúde.

  • Evandro Benedito Abate, Universidade Federal de São Paulo,Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

    Possui graduação em enfermagem pelo Centro Universitário de Araraquara (2004). Experiência na área de enfermagem, com ênfase em saúde mental, especialização em enfermagem em saúde mental e psiquiátrica (Unifesp), dependência química multidisciplinar (Unifesp) e mestrado em enfermagem pela Universidade de Guarulhos (UNG).

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Published

2025-10-22

Issue

Vol. 21 (2025): SMAD, Revista Eletrônica Saúde Mental, Álcool e Drogas

Section

Original Article

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Copyright (c) 2025 SMAD Revista Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool e Drogas (Edição em Português)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Marcolan, J. F., & Abate, E. B. (2025). Academic life factors and suicidal behavior in university students at a federal institution. SMAD Revista Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool E Drogas (Edição Em Português), 21, e-230604. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1806-6976.smad.2025.230604