Elevated Suicide Risk Among Earthquake-Exposed Adolescents in Türkiye: The Role of Mental Well-Being and Perceived Social Support

Abstract

Background:

The 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes significantly impacted the mental health of adolescent survivors. This study examines the prevalence of elevated suicide risk and suicide attempt (SA) among these adolescents. It explores the roles of mental well-being and perceived social support in mitigating suicidality.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2023 and January 2024 at the child psychiatry clinics of Harran University and Inonu University Medical Schools. The sample comprised 1,417 adolescents aged 14 to 18 years who presented for initial psychiatric assessment. Data were collected on demographics, earthquake experiences, and mental health status using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), and the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS).

Results:

The prevalence of elevated suicide risk was 47.1%, and SA was 9.4% among participants. Multiple traumas, including witnessing deaths and spending time under rubble, were associated with elevated suicide risk. Male gender, damage to one’s home, residing in temporary housing, and sleep disturbances were significant predictors of elevated suicide risk. Conversely, higher MSPSS and WE-MWBS scores were associated with reduced suicide risk, collectively explaining 59.9% of its variance.

Conclusions:

The findings underscore the critical need for targeted interventions that enhance mental well-being and strengthen social support networks to mitigate suicidality among earthquake-affected adolescents. Future research should explore longitudinal effects and develop strategies to bolster resilience in this vulnerable population.