Risk factors for suicidal behavior in a university population in Brazil: A retrospective study

•Family history of psychiatric disorder and the adjustment phase of treatment are risk factors associated with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) in employees.•Employees who experienced childhood and adolescence maltreatment are more likely to attempt suicide.•Education degree and treatment phase are predictors of SITBs in students.•Smoking and maltreatment during childhood and adolescence are risk factors for suicide attempt in students. The present study aimed to evaluate whether variables related to personal and academic characteristics, past history, habits, and addictions were associated with suicidal behavior. Medical records of patients attending the Outpatient Psychiatry Department at the State University of Maringá between July 2016 and December 2017 were included in this retrospective study. The studied population was divided into two groups: 80 employees and 158 students. After performing the univariate analysis using Pearson's chi-square test or Fischer's exact test, the variables with p