Mental Health Determinants Of Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescent Females in Gorontalo, Indonesia: Evidence from a Lower-Middle-Income Country

Background Mental health disorders significantly contribute to the global disease burden, with suicide being a major preventable cause of mortality, particularly among youth. Adolescents experience a critical developmental stage that increases their vulnerability to common mental disorders and suicidal ideation, with females exhibiting higher rates of nonfatal suicidal behavior than males. In low- and middle-income countries, this vulnerability is further exacerbated by structural gender inequality and limited access to mental health services. In Indonesia, millions of adolescents face mental health challenges; however, the factors influencing suicidal ideation among young women are poorly understood. Provincial data indicate alarming trends, with Gorontalo reporting some of the highest national rates of suicide attempts and a recent increase in suicide cases, prompting national-level investigations. Despite this, there is a paucity of empirical data on the personal and environmental factors influencing suicidal ideation among adolescent girls in this context. Objective This study aimed to examine the association between common mental disorders and suicidal ideation among adolescent females in Gorontalo, Indonesia, to inform early intervention strategies in public health services. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 408 adolescent females aged 18–24 years. Data were collected using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire for mental health screening and the Adolescent Mental Resilience Instrument for suicidal ideation (SI). Results The prevalence of common mental disorders was 28.2%, psychotic symptoms 21.1%, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 39.5%, and suicidal ideation 6.1%. Bivariate analysis indicated significant associations between common mental disorders and suicidal ideation ( p  < 0.05). Conclusions Mental health problems remain a critical issue among adolescent females in Gorontalo, with suicidal ideation being strongly associated with psychosocial factors. Strengthening family support, promoting mental health awareness in schools, and implementing early screening programs in community health centers are essential for suicide prevention and enhancing adolescent mental health.