ABSTRACT
Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts, andloneliness among dental and medical students in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study investigated 607 dental and medical students and interns in private colleges in SaudiArabia. A self-administrated questionnaire was based on the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Suicidal ideationand attempts were measured by a questionnaire adopted from previous research. The data was collected at theend of the year at examination time. Results: The loneliness mean was M= 45.14 (SD 8.66). Among theparticipants, 37.7% had experienced suicidal ideation throughout their lives, 33.4% had experienced suicidalideation during the previous 12 months, and 23.2% had attempted suicide. Loneliness was significantly relatedwith suicidal ideation during the previous 12 months (p <0.001) and with suicidal attempts (p = 0.005). Theresults showed that the following subgroups had higher risk for suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts: female,low family income, married, and dental students. Conclusion: The high levels of suicidal ideation and attemptsamong dental and medical students in the western region of Saudi Arabia call for the implementation ofprofessional counselling and health promotion programs.