Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation Among Undergraduate Students of Medical Colleges of Nepal: A Nationwide Multicentric Cross-sectional Study

<title>Abstract</title> <p>Medical students constitute a vulnerable population due to substantial educational and personal stressors, with suicidal ideation affecting approximately one in nine students globally. Limited evidence exists regarding suicidal ideation among medical students in Nepal. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation among undergraduate medical students in Nepal. Our study with a sample size of 162 found that nearly one in three students (31.6%) have had suicidal thoughts, and over a quarter (27.6%) experienced them within the past year. About 8.6% had made a plan, while 6.3% had attempted suicide. The strongest association with CI 95% was dissatisfaction with academic performance (OR = 4.13, CI: 1.97–8.69, p = 0.0002), followed by feeling neglected by parents (OR = 3.40, CI: 1.23–9.43, p = 0.03), current alcohol use (OR = 2.74, CI: 1.29–5.83, p = 0.018), and male sex (OR = 0.45, CI: 0.23–0.88, p = 0.02). These alarming findings underscore the urgent need for effective mental health support, preventive strategies, and deeper research into contributing factors.</p>