Suicidal Ideation and Risk Factors Among Medical Students in Mexico: A Systematic Review

Introduction. Suicide is a public health challenge in Mexico and globally. Medical students represent a vulnerable population due to academic and psychosocial stressors. Objective. This systematic review aimed to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and identify the associated risk factors among medical students in México. Materials & Methods. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed Central and Google Scholar for articles published in Spanish or English between January 2013 and May 2023. Studies were included if they addressed suicidal behavior within the Mexican medical student population. Results. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently identified risk factors included academic distress, anxiety, depression, burnout, substance use, a history of physical or sexual abuse, social isolation, and barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Conclusions. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among medical students in Mexico is high. This finding underscores the need to develop and implement prevention strategies and early detection programs tailored to this population.