Mental Health Status and Suicide Risk Among Youths in the Buea Municipality, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Mental health problems and suicide risk among youths constitute a major global public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where service availability remains limited. This study investigated the mental health status and suicide risk among youths in the Buea Municipality, Southwest Region of Cameroon, while also examining mental health practitioners’ perspectives on youth suicide and associated risk factors in a conflict-affected setting. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 396 youths aged 13–30 years and 45 mental health practitioners using validated instruments including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS), alongside structured questionnaires for practitioners. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and linear regression. Qualitative data from focus group discussions and practitioner interviews were analyzed thematically and integrated through triangulation. Findings revealed a relatively low overall suicide risk among youths (M = 1.43), although 19.7% reported previous suicidal ideation. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were prominent, with excessive worry (M = 1.96), irritability (M = 1.78), and depressive mood (M = 1.65) being most frequent. A significant positive association was found between mental health difficulties and suicide risk (r = 0.265, p < 0.001), with mental health status explaining 7% of variance in suicide risk (R² = 0.07). Mental health practitioners strongly affirmed that social determinants such as bullying, substance abuse, family dysfunction, and poverty are major drivers of youth suicide (M = 4.40), and reported an increasing trend in suicide attempts among youths (M = 4.00). Qualitative findings reinforced these results, highlighting academic stress, economic hardship, trauma exposure, and sociopolitical instability, while identifying family support, religion, and future aspirations as key protective factors. The study concludes that youth mental health in Buea is characterized by coexisting psychological distress and protective resilience. Integrated school- and community-based mental health interventions, strengthened psychosocial services, and culturally grounded suicide prevention strategies are urgently needed. The inclusion of practitioner perspectives provides critical contextual validation for intervention planning in resource-limited and conflict-affected settings.