Mental health crises among young adults may have a more tangible, treatable entry point than previously recognized. Poor sleep quality emerges as both a warning signal and potential intervention target for preventing the most serious psychological outcomes during the vulnerable university years. The French i-Share study examined sleep patterns and suicidal ideation among 6,411 university students, revealing that nearly one in four students experienced chronic sleep disturbances. Students with frequent insomnia showed 50% higher rates of recurring suicidal thoughts compared to those sleeping well. The relationship proved dose-dependent: as sleep problems intensified in frequency and severity, so did suicidal ideation. This pattern held across multiple sleep metrics including sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and sleep deprivation, even after controlling for existing depression and anxiety symptoms. The findings suggest sleep disturbances operate as an independent risk pathway for suicidal thoughts rather than merely reflecting underlying mental health conditions. This research builds upon established connections between circadian disruption and mood disorders, but extends into more serious psychological territory. For clinicians and campus health services, sleep assessment offers a less stigmatized screening approach than direct suicide risk evaluation. Students may more readily discuss sleep troubles than mental health symptoms, creating earlier intervention opportunities. The dose-response relationship indicates that even moderate sleep improvements could yield meaningful protective effects. However, the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation, and the sample's demographic homogeneity may restrict broader applicability. While promising for preventive mental health strategies, these correlational findings require longitudinal validation before establishing sleep intervention as suicide prevention.