Using AI to predict suicidal behaviours in students

How can we predict suicide risk in students, especially at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected many people's mental health? According to researchers from Montreal and France, self-esteem represents an important predictive marker of suicidal risk. The team from McGill University, University of Montreal, Inserm, and Université de Bordeaux is using artificial intelligence to identify factors that accurately predict suicidal behavior in students. "Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. Early detection of suicidal behaviours and thoughts is the key to providing appropriate treatment," says lead author Mélissa Macalli, a PhD Candidate at University of Bordeaux. Published in Scientific Reports , their analysis is based on data collected from over 5,000 university students in France who were followed for at least one year between 2013 and 2019. The study shows that out of 70 potential predictors, four detect around 80 percent of suicidal behaviours at follow-up. These are suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and self-esteem.