RESUMEN Fundamento: la interaccion entre caracteristicas individuales y contextuales puede facilitar el desarrollo de conductas de riesgo, fundamentales para comprender problemas de salud mental. El presente estudio indaga por algunos factores de riesgo asociados a la ideacion suicida en jovenes universitarios. Metodo: se realizo un estudio descriptivo transversal. Se diseno y aplico un cuestionario que indagaba por aspectos sociodemograficos, familiares, relaciones significativas, conducta suicida y actos que ponen en riesgo la vida. Se realizo un muestreo no probabilistico por conveniencia, aplicandoles el cuestionario a 100 estudiantes de distintos programas academicos. La informacion fue digitada, ordenada y tabulada en Excel. Se recurrio a SPSS para realizar los analisis univariados y bivariados. Resultados: se encontro que el 16 % ha presentado ideacion suicida en el ultimo ano y 12 % ha realizado al menos un intento de suicidio en su vida. Se encontro asociacion estadisticamente significativa entre tener ideacion suicida en el ultimo ano y no tener trabajo; no tener buena relacion con el padre; no contar con una buena relacion consigo mismo; haber realizado un intento de suicidio alguna vez en la vida; tener un estudiante cercano que hubiese cometido suicidio; conocer a un estudiante cercano que haya realizado un intento de suicidio; realizar actos que pongan en riesgo la vida y omitir conductas que protejan la vida. Conclusiones: se encontraron niveles altos de ideacion e intento, asi como importantes factores de riesgo asociados a la ideacion suicida. Se recomienda a la Institucion realizar programas de preven. ABSTRACT Background: the interaction between individual and contextual characteristics can facilitate the development of risk conducts and is fundamental to understand mental health problems. This study researches into some risk factors associated to suicidal ideation in young university students. Methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. A questionnaire was designed and applied to research into family and sociodemographic aspects, significant relationships, suicidal conducts and acts that put life in risk. A probabilistic sampling of convenience was made. The questionnaire was applied to 100 students of different academic programs. The information was keyed in and put in order and tabulated in Excel. SPSS was used to carry out the univaried and bivaried analysis. Results: the 16 % of the students had presented suicidal ideation in the last year and the 12 % had attempted suicide at least once in their lives. There was a statistically significant association between having suicidal ideation in the last year and: not having a job; not having a good relationship with the father; not having a good relationship with oneself; having attempted suicide once in life; knowing a close student who committed suicide; making acts that put life in risk and omitting conducts that protect life. Conclusions: high levels of suicidal ideation and attempt were found, as well as risks associated to suicidal ideation. It is recommended that the institution devises prevention programs.