Exploratory analysis of risk factors for suicidal ideation among young men in urban informal settlements in durban, South Africa: A cross-sectional study

Suicidal ideation – thoughts about suicide, but not necessarily planning or attempting - is common among young people in Low and Middle-Income Countries. There has been a significant focus on poor mental health as a key driver of suicidal ideation, yet structural challenges such as poverty, economic and social marginalisation and gender norms, have also been shown to be critical drivers of suicidal ideation among young men. We conducted an exploratory study to assess risk factors for suicidal ideation among young men living in urban informal settlements in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa. We conducted a cross-sectional survey, forming the baseline of a randomized controlled trial in 2015. We recruited 674 young men (aged 18–30 years) of which n = 669 (99.3 %) provided data on recent suicidal ideation. Past 4-week suicidal ideation was common (24.2 %) in this group. In multivariable logistic regression, food insecurity, violence in childhood and adulthood, and recent drug use were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. We suggest that suicide prevention programmes need to include a focus on addressing context specific challenges, as well as poor mental health, if they are to reduce the burden of suicidal ideation.