Association between illegal use of substances and suicidal behavior in school students: An integrative review of empirical data

PURPOSE: Investigation of the association between type of suicidal behavior and type and frequency of illegal use of substances (IUS) among school students (aged between 12 and 18 years), with a focus on gender differences. DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic review in PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and Scopus was performed. Identified articles were published between 2007 and 2018. RESULTS: Twenty empirical studies confirmed the association between IUS and suicidality, strongly differentiated between males and females, highlighting the importance of gender-specific mediating factors. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health nurses need to document gender factors, frequency, and motivation of IUS when screening adolescents experiencing suicidal behavior and IUS.