Prevalence of Suicide Risk Factors among University Students in Gilgit Baltistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32350/sri.41.02Keywords:
Suicide, Social issues, Economic Crisis, Family Dynamics, Peer Group, EducationAbstract
The research explores the prevalence of suicide and underlying factors among university students in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. This study explores how psychological, social, family, and economic factors shape suicidal ideation in an area where young adults are subjected to increasing social and professional demands. The sample size of 300 respondents was selected using a random sampling strategy, while 400 respondents were included. The researcher used a quantitative research design. Data were collected through questionnaires from the public sector universities in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The results show that the most significant factors of suicidal thoughts are psychological ones; the percentages for anxiety are 37.3%, loneliness (38.1%), and mood swings (54.2%) were also high. On the other hand, economic issues like financial stress had a relatively small impact (only 22.3% agreement). The study indicates that students living in hostels (13.5%) were at higher risk than those living with their families (86.5%), and that 56.7% of respondents were female and 43.3% were male. Suicidal ideation was prevented by supportive relationships and close familial ties. The summary results highlight that psychological factors and social isolation, rather than financial difficulty, are the main factors that resulted in suicide among the students in Gilgit-Baltistan. In order to reduce psychological stress, it is important to build a social support network for the students, such as mental health services, awareness campaigns, and institutional counseling facilities.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Maryam Shaukat, Dil Sultana, Arooj Nazir
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