attitudes towards suicide among health science students will influence their future encounter with suicidal patients. The aim of the present study is to describe the attitudes towards suicidal behaviours among medical and nursing students from the University of Oviedo, and to identify the parameters (demographic, personal experiences and believes) that influence such attitudes.

medical (3° and 5° year) and nursing (1° y 2° year) students at the University of Oviedo who attended to class a regular day were asked to participate in the survey. Those who participated filled in the Attitudes Towards Suicide Questionnaire.

a total of 162 students were included in this study. The mean age was 21 years (SD 2.4); 84% were women; 63% had religious believes; 15.6% had had at least once suicidal thoughts or ideas. An empathetic and optimistic view towards suicidal patients appeared to be mostly prevalent among health science students. Age, type of studies, previous information about suicide and history of previous suicidal thoughts influence some of these attitudes.

older, medical students and those who have received specific information about suicidal behaviours have attitudes more determined by a medical perspective. Previous history of suicidal ideation is associated with a more pessimistic view of these behaviours.