Background: Suicide rates among Iraqis, is rising, with many analysts attributing it to political instability, exposure to trauma, economic hopelessness, social stigma surrounding mental health as well as cultural and societal pressures. However, the prevalence of suicidal ideation and associated risk factors in Iraqi youth is unknown, requiring urgent attention and effective public health initiatives. Thus, the aim of the study was to explore rates of suicidal ideation and associated risk factors among female secondary school students in Baghdad, Iraq. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted, utilising quantitative survey data collected in four girls’ secondary schools across Baghdad, Iraq, between August and December 2023. The survey consisted of questions relating to their demographic characteristics (age, gender, school) and a series of measures pertaining to participants’ levels of suicidal ideation, as well as factors commonly identified in the literature as predictors of suicide. Results: Four-hundred and two female participants took part. Participants were aged between 13 and 17 years ( M = 15.50; SD = 1.22). 11.3% of the students scored in the at-risk range for suicidal behaviour and only 20.1% (n=91) said they had not had some thoughts of suicide in the previous two weeks. Previous diagnoses of anxiety, high levels of depression and hopelessness, and poor quality of life were significant risk factors for suicidal ideation. On average, students reported moderate levels of depression and high levels of hopelessness. Conclusion: Female Iraqi secondary school students experience high levels of suicidality, alongside several other known risk factors for suicide ideation. Findings emphasise the importance of developing targeted school-based interventions to support students’ mental health. Increasing research and attention in this area is vital to not only improving the mental health of students in Iraq but also reduce the stigma around mental health and suicide.