Risk and protective factors associated with suicidal behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis amongst college students in Spain

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have increased suicidal behavior. The current study evaluates the patterns, risk and protective factors of suicidal behavior among college students in Spain (N = 517) one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety, alcohol use and cannabis use (risk factors), and social support and COVID-19 fear (protective factors), were associated with suicidal behavior. These were relatively high among students (22.8% indicated a suicide risk and 9.7% have planned suicide), making it essential to have suicide prevention strategies for university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implications for Social Work are discussed.