Hopelessness and Its Role in Suicidal Ideation among University Students in Baghdad

Objective: Suicide is a critical health concern globally; it is the second leading cause of death among university students worldwide. Hopelessness is a severe psychological factor linked to suicidal behaviours, which has been increasingly prevalent among university students in Baghdad, Iraq, warranting focused investigation. The study aimed to examine hopelessness and its role in suicidal ideation among university students in Baghdad, Iraq. Methods and Materials: A descriptive research design was used for the study. Study Setting: The study was conducted among university students in Baghdad City, Iraq. Research Subjects: A convenience sample of 150 students was included from the designated setting. Tools: Two tools were used for data collection: Part I collected demographic information, while Part II assessed the risk factors and causes of suicidal behaviors. Tool II explored the attitude of university Students regarding suicide. Findings: The findings revealed that the majority of male students (80.2%) reported experiencing suicidal ideation, while nearly three-quarters (70.2%) of female students also reported the same. Over three-quarters (76.7%) attributed their suicidal ideation primarily to depression, followed by factors such as non-supportive family environments (56.7%), lack of faith (52%), challenging life circumstances (49.3%), educational stressors (43.3%), and a desire to attract attention (32.7%). Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that a significant number of university students experienced suicidal ideation, with depression being the primary cause identified.