Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation among Displaced Women and Girls in the Kurdistan Region

Displacement related to conflict exerts significant mental health pressure on the communities experiencing it. Women in such contexts experience worsened mental health outcomes before and after conflict and the resulting displacement. In such a conflict-affected context, suicide is a major concern. Therefore, this study explores factors associated with suicidal ideation among displaced women and girls in the Kurdistan Region. The research employs a quantitative cross-sectional design with 500 participants. It aims to find the prevalence of suicidal ideation and identify related factors at individual, community and societal levels. The results showed that the prevalence of suicidal ideation is 10.4%. Furthermore, it was revealed that a history of suicide attempts, mental health conditions, use of psychotropic medications, experiences of domestic violence and residence outside of camps were associated with higher suicidality. On the other hand, older age, basic education and stronger economic status were associated with lower suicidality. These findings highlight that suicidal ideation is not merely an individual issue but arises from an interplay of different factors on a broader community and societal level. This underscores the need for multilevel interventions that address not only the psychological issues but also the socioenvironmental factors when attempting to address suicide.