Eyisi, MeekAbikoye, Gboyega E.Abiodun, Gesinde M.Eyisi, Joy2025-09-232025-01-30https://repository.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/handle/123456789/50366Suicide ideation among university students is a growing global concern, driven by psychological, academic, and socio-economic stressors. In Nigeria, the issue is exacerbated by insufficient mental health resources, cultural stigma surrounding mental health, and regional disparities in social support systems. Addressing these challenges is critical to safeguarding the well-being of this vulnerable population, who often rely on informal social networks due to limited institutional support. This study examines the role of social support as a protective factor against suicide ideation among 4,930 undergraduate students sampled from Southeastern, Southwestern, and Northcentral Nigerian geopolitical zones. An ex post facto research design was employed, using validated scales to measure social support and suicide ideation. Regional and demographic variations were explored through regression analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Findings revealed significant disparities, with the Southeastern zone reporting the highest levels of social support (60.7%) and the lowest prevalence of suicide ideation (31.5%), while the Northcentral zone recorded the lowest social support levels (32.5%) and the highest prevalence of suicide ideation (88.8%). Regression results further confirmed the critical role of social support in mitigating suicide ideation, with the strongest effect observed in the Northcentral zone (R² = 0.077, p < 0.05). These results underscore the urgent need for integrating robust social support systems within Nigerian universities. Policy recommendations include establishing mental health programs, training culturally sensitive practitioners, and promoting community engagement to strengthen support networks. Such interventions are essential to fostering emotional resilience and reducing suicide ideation among students, ultimately enhancing their academic and personal well-being.enSocial Support · Suicide IdeationArticle