Depression, Suicidal Ideation and High-Risk Behaviors Among Underserved Youths in Central Mexico

Background: The staggering cost of depressive disorders and suicide on the quality of life of patients and families, the increased mortality risk, and the high economic burden demand our attention. There is evidence suggesting that engagement in risky behaviors, development of negative habits such as using alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, and depressive disorders all begin during adolescence. Further, substance use, in particular smoking and drinking, has been linked to depression and suicide risk. The study aim was to evaluate the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation and identify predictors that could inform a prevention program.

Method: Using a cross-sectional study design with a probability sample, 702 adolescents (ages 14-24) from low-income, rural high school students in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato were surveyed.

Results: Almost half (49.2%) of participants showed some level of depression (CES-D >16), with 23.6% identified as suffering severe depression (CES-D >25). Logistic regression analyses indicated that controlling for financial status, symptoms of depression were predicted by female sex, low self-esteem, risky behaviors, conflictive parent-teen relationships, and binge alcohol drinking. The same variables with the exception of binge drinking predicted severe depression. In turn, suicidal ideation was associated with depression, low self-esteem, high-risk behaviors, and conflictive relationships with parents. A similar pattern of clustered behaviors among teenagers has been reported.

Conclusions: Predicting and ultimately preventing depression is of enormous public health significance. The findings can inform the design of interventions to prevent this early pattern of depressive disorders and associated risk factors among low-income, rural youth in Mexico and possibly in other contexts.