What is it about?
The researchers surveyed 372,000 students at 140 U.S. colleges and universities over five years and found that about 1.2% (4,292 students) had attempted suicide in the past year. The study shows that both past experiences (things that happened earlier in life) and recent events work together to increase suicide risk. Past experiences such as having been diagnosed with a mental health condition, struggling with alcohol problems, experiencing physical abuse, growing up with financial hardship, or living with a disability can all contribute to higher risk. However, these past experiences often lead to suicide attempts through more immediate triggers—especially recent severe depression and substance use. The research found that when students face new stresses in college, they often fall back into previous patterns of coping that can be harmful.
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Why is it important?
This research comes at a critical time when suicide rates among emerging adults (ages 18-24) have increased by 55% over the past two decades—more than twice the increase seen in older adults. With suicide being the third leading cause of death in this age group, understanding these risk factors is particularly important. What makes this study unique is how it traces the connections between long-standing risk factors and immediate triggers, showing that addressing both is essential for prevention. This knowledge can help colleges develop more effective prevention strategies by identifying students who might benefit from targeted support based on their background risk factors. The research suggests several practical approaches for campus suicide prevention, including directed mental health services, culturally appropriate prevention activities, training for community members to recognize warning signs, and policies addressing high-risk drinking behaviors. These strategies could help reduce suicide risk during this important developmental period.
Perspectives
I valued the collaborative work with my colleagues on this research study. Our findings on alcohol-related risk factors were particularly noteworthy, showing that a history of diagnosed alcohol use disorder was mediated by recent patterns of alcohol use, binge drinking frequency, and polysubstance use. It is notable that approximately 16% of the association between past alcohol use disorder and suicide attempts was mediated by these recent alcohol and substance use behaviors. This underscores the importance of campus alcohol policies and targeted interventions for students with histories of alcohol problems. I hope our research will inform comprehensive prevention approaches that address both mental health and substance use factors that contribute to suicide risk.
Hillel Alpert
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Relations between proximal and distal predictors of suicide risk among college students., Psychology of Violence, April 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/vio0000589.
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