Background: Suicidal behavior in medical students can be triggered by mental stresses and adoption of poor coping strategies, and might have a negative impact on their quality of life. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal behavior, and effects of the components of coping strategies on suicidal behavior among medical students. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 531 medical students for a period of two months from February to March 2021. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) scale was used to measure suicidal behavior. Exploratory factor analysis was performed on the Brief-COPE Inventory to classify the coping components. Chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the risk factors and their association with suicidal behavior. Results: A total of 104 respondents (19.6%) had reported an SBQ-R cutoff score of ≥7 and had suicidal behavior. The rate of lifetime suicidal ideation, plan and attempt was 20.3%, 10.3% and 2.3%, respectively, among medical students with one-year prevalence of suicidal ideation at 33%. The mean age of the participants was 21.26 years (standard deviation (SD) = 1.99). The identified risk factors significantly associated with higher suicidal behavior were depression (OR = 9.6), dissatisfaction with academic performances (OR = 4.9) and coping with mental disengagement (OR = 4.6), while coping with supportive strategies (OR = 0.57) was investigated as a preventive factor for the suicidal behavior. Conclusions: The prevalence of suicidal behavior is found to be highly alarming, revealing that depression and poor coping strategies are risk factors among medical students. The analysis recommends that quantification of the problems, treatment at an early stage and proactive student counselling to help them embrace the appropriate coping strategies should be the first steps in prevention of suicidal behavior.

Background: Medical students face great stress and put their mental health at risk to become an individual contributing to society, and impulsively attempt suicide. Little is known in the Indian context, so additional knowledge on the magnitude and covariates is required. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the magnitude and covariates of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempts among medical students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in two medical colleges located in rural Northern India and enrolled 940 medical students for a period of two months from February to March 2022. A convenience sampling method was executed to collect the data. The research protocol incorporates a self-administered questionnaire regarding sociodemographic and personal domains, as well as standardized tools to assess psychopathological domains such as depression, anxiety, stress, and stressors. The Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) scale was used to measure the outcomes. Stepwise backward logistic regression (LR) analysis was used to determine the covariates associated with suicidal ideation, plan, and attempts. Results: A sample of 787 participants (87.1% response rate) were finally enrolled in the survey, with a mean age of 21.08 (±2.78) years. Around 293 (37.2%) of respondents had suicidal ideation, 86 (10.9%) claimed planning suicide, and 26 (3.3%) mentioned attempting suicide in their lifetime as well as 7.4% of participants assessed the risk of suicidal behavior in the future. The identified covariates poor sleep, family history of psychiatric illness, never seeking psychiatric aid, regret for choosing the field of medicine, bullying, depressive symptoms, high stress, emotion-focused coping, and avoidant coping, were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of lifetime suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt. Conclusion: A high frequency of suicidal thoughts and attempts, indicates the need of addressing these concerns promptly. The incorporation of mindfulness techniques, resilience, faculty mentorship programs, and proactive student counseling may help foster the mental health of the students.

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Background: Nurses are the main part of the health workforce, performing their duties as frontline warriors against the novel coronavirus pandemic. Nurses involved in the care of infected (COVID-19) patients, may feel more discomfort physically and experience greater psychological morbidities. Aims and Objectives: The main aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and stress among nurses in a designated COVID-19 hospital and variables that influence these psychological problems. Methodology: Nurses working in the designated tertiary care hospital were invited to participate in an online cross-sectional survey (dated, September 5–15, 2020). A self-administered questionnaire regarding sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19-related experiences, perceived threat regarding COVID-19, and two scales (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Perceived Stress Scale-10) for the assessment of anxiety and stress was applied to nurses. Chi-square test and multiple regression analysis were used to investigate the predictors (risk and protective) of psychological morbidities in nurses. Results: On analysis of 209 participants, it was revealed that 65 (31.1%) participants have anxiety symptoms and 35.40% have moderate to the high level of stress. Being proud of working in this profession was the only protective factor from such psychological morbidities. The identified risk factors for greater anxiety symptoms and moderate-to-high-level stress were, working experience of >10 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.36), direct involvement in the care of suspected/diagnosed patients (OR = 3.4), feeling worried about being quarantined/isolated (OR = 1.69,) and high risk of being infected at the job (OR = 2.3 for anxiety and OR = 2.1 for moderate-to-high stress). Conclusions: Deteriorating the psychic health of nurses is one of the major outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in India which warrants the necessity of providing psychological support to nurses and controlling the risk factors related to these problems. Greater focus should be on the frontline and experienced nurses.

Background Mental stresses and adoption of poor coping strategies can be a cause of suicidal behavior in medical students. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal behavior, and effects of the components of coping strategies on suicidal behavior among medical students Methodology An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of a college located in North India for a period of 2 months from February to March 2021. A total of 531 study participants (calculated sample size) were selected, and then allocated proportionally to each academic year, both through stratified random sampling technique. Then, the participants were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), and coping inventory. A pretest was done to modify the coping inventory and then exploratory factor analysis was performed on it to classify the components of coping strategies. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to determine the risk factors and their association with suicidal behavior. Results A total of 104 (19.6%) respondents had reported SBQ-R cutoff score > 7 and had suicidal behavior. The rate of lifetime suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt was 20.3, 10.3, and 2.3%, respectively, among medical students, with 1-year prevalence of suicidal ideation at 33%. The mean age of the participants was 21.26 years (standard deviation = 1.99). The identified risk factors significantly associated with higher suicidal behavior were depression (odds ratio [OR] = 9.6), dissatisfaction with academic performances (OR = 4.9), and coping with mental disengagement (OR = 4.6), while coping with supportive strategies (OR = 0.57) was investigated as a preventive factor for the suicidal behavior. Conclusion The prevalence of suicidal behavior is found to be highly alarming, revealing that depression and poor coping strategies are risk factors among medical students. The analysis recommends that quantification of the problems, treatment at an early stage, and proactive student counseling to help them embrace the appropriate coping strategies, should be the first steps in prevention of suicidal behavior.