The role of gratitude and optimism interventions in reducing suicide risk and enhancing wellbeing among university students

Suicide risk among university students continues to rise globally, underscoring the need for preventive strategies that cultivate resilience. Gratitude and optimism, core constructs in positive psychology, may strengthen coping and reduce distress. However, few studies have examined their direct impact on suicide-related outcomes in this population. To evaluate the effectiveness of a five-week group program integrating gratitude and optimism exercises in improving wellbeing and reducing suicide-risk correlates. Six hundred sixty-one Spanish university students (286 men, 375 women; Mage = 21.04) were assigned to intervention (n = 418) or control (n = 243) groups based on course enrollment availability. The intervention included weekly activities based on gratitude journaling, best possible self-visualization, and prosocial exercises. Measures of gratitude (GR-5), optimism (LOT-R), life satisfaction (SWLS), depression (BDI-II), suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior were collected pre- and post-intervention. Mixed ANOVAs (Group × Time) assessed effects. Significant Group × Time interactions emerged for gratitude, optimism, life satisfaction, and depression. Modest but significant effects were found for suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior. The intervention group showed substantial increases in gratitude, optimism, and life satisfaction, accompanied by notable reductions in depressive symptoms and self-harm indicators. Increases in gratitude and optimism in the intervention group were associated with increased life satisfaction and a decrease in depression, suicidal ideation and behaviour, significantly compared to the control group. Short-term gratitude + optimism training effectively enhances wellbeing and reduces suicide-risk correlates among university students. Findings support the integration of scalable positive-psychology interventions within campus mental-health programs.