• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.473-484
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relations among appropriateness of work, competency on student suicide and attitude toward suicide in health teachers. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive one. The subjects were 193 health teachers. Self-administered questionnaires were used to measure the variables of this study. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression with SAS 9.3 software were used for the data analysis. Results: The attitude score toward suicide ranged from 1.47 to -1.03. The average score of appropriateness of work and competency related to student suicide were 2.34 and 2.81 respectively. Associated factors with competency related to student suicide among health teacher were appropriateness of work related to student suicide, two items of attitude toward suicide(suicide is an acceptable means to end an incurable illness and people who commit suicide are usually mentally ill), education level, education experience on suicide prevention and management, and the adjusted $R^2$ of the regression model was 34.3%. Conclusion: Health teachers were not tolerable to student suicide. However, they evaluated themselves as low in the appropriateness and competency to the work on student suicide, especially in screening and counselling of high risk groups. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary to develop education programs about counseling and intervention on student suicide for health teachers.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.169-176
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• 2020

Exploring the risk factors of adolescent suicide is important for effective suicide prevention. This study explored the clustering of adolescent suicides based on six risk factors: mental disorder, broken family, depression, anxiety, previous suicide attempts, and deviant behaviors. Using 173 student suicide reports obtained from the Ministry of Education, we evaluated the associations between suicide and variables related to mental disorders; dysfunctional family life; depression and anxiety; previous suicide attempts; deviant behaviors such as drinking and smoking; and school life characteristics, including attendance and discipline, problems within the past year, and incidents prior to suicide. In addition, reports of warning signs just before suicide were included in the analysis. The two-stage cluster analysis classified the students into three clusters: the silent type (cluster 1; 48.55%), in which no risk factors were observed; environmental-risk type (cluster 2: 24.28%), which featured a high frequency of broken households, deviant behaviors such as smoking/drinking and running away from home; and depressive type (cluster 3: 27.17%), which featured a high frequency of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts. Identifying the sub-types of adolescent suicide may help to inform tailored suicide prevention and intervention strategies in school.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.264-271
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• 2023

Objectives: Hanging is a common method of attempted suicide. This study investigated the epidemiological profile of attempted and completed suicides by hanging in southern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 1167 suicide attempts by hanging between 2011 and 2019. All data related to suicide attempts by hanging were collected from the Fars Suicide Surveillance System. The trends in suicide cases and the mean age of attempted and completed suicides were plotted. The chi-square test was used to identify suicide-related factors. Crude rates of incidence, mortality, and standardized fatality during the study period were calculated. Finally, logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of death in individuals who attempted suicide. Results: The mean age of those who attempted suicide was 33.21±16.82 years; the majority were male (80.5%). The rate of attempted and completed suicide by hanging were 3.50 and 2.79 per 100 000 people, respectively. The case-fatality rate was calculated as 79.34%. The results of our study indicated an increasing trend in suicide attempts by hanging. The likelihood of death was 2.28 times higher in individuals with a previous history of suicide attempts and 1.85 times higher in those with a psychological disorder. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest an increasing trend in attempted and completed suicide by hanging, especially among individuals with a history of suicide attempts and psychological disorders. It is necessary to take action to reduce the rate of suicide attempts and identify the underlying causes of suicide attempts by hanging.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.73-82
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• 2011

Objectives: This study is to gain an understanding of the characteristics of suicides committed by university students in Korea by assessing news reports. Methods: A total of 97 news reports on university student suicides on daily newspapers and TV newscasts from 2000 to 2011 are included in this study. Analyses were performed on sociodemographic characteristics of suicided university students and temporal and other characteristics of the suicides. Results: Suicide rate was higher among males than females. The most frequently used method of suicide was jumping off while the most common place was the students’ residence. Issues related to academic and financial problems topped as the reasons for suicide. There were no differences in the reasons for committing suicide by school year and enrollment, but the location and season of committing suicide differed by reasons for suicide. Conclusions: Implication of this study, discussion on the results and suggestions for suicide prevention are discussed.

• Korean Journal of School Psychology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.121-151
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• 2021

This study aimed to identify the factors that helped and hindered secondary school teachers who experienced student suicide using the concept-mapping approach. Seven South Korean middle and high school teachers were interviewed from which 113 core statements were elicited. The participants sorted these core statements into categories by meaning. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis were conducted to identify the underlying structure of the teachers' experiences. Four hindering factor clusters emerged: (1) regret over failing to prevent the suicide, (2) an apathetic atmosphere in the school, (3) a sense of helplessness related to suicide survivors, and (4) approach-avoidance conflicts related to suicide survivors. Six helpful factor clusters emerged: (1) cooperation and care offered between suicide survivors, (2) focusing on the present, busy life, (3) spiritual activity, (4) social support, (5) overcoming grief through altruistic behaviors, and (6) sympathy for the deceased. Two dimensions were found for both the hindering and helpful factors. The hindering factor dimensions were external system-internal experiences and related to suicide survivors-related to suicide decedents. The helpful factor dimensions were distancing from the loss-approaching the loss and professional activities-personal activities. The present study empirically explored and described the underlying structure of teachers' bereavement experiences after student suicides.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2005

Purposes: The purposes of this study were ① to identify the rate of suicide attempts, and ② to investigate relevant variables(family dynamic environment, personality factors) and risk factors for attempting suicide among Korean adolescents. Method: Data were collected through a questionnaire survey. Internal consistencies for this questionnaire ranged from 0.63 to 0.88. Nine hundred and twenty two adolescents were surveyed (delinquent : 367, student : 555), using a proportional stratified random sampling method. Statistical methods employed were chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: ① The rate of suicide attempts was 10.8％ for the total sample, and the delinquents(19.6％) had a higher rate of suicide attempts than the students(5.1％). ② Adolescents attempting suicide had a greater dysfunctional family dynamic environment and more maladaptive personality than those who did not attempt suicide. ③ Risk factors for suicide attempts among Korean adolescents were way of coping, psychosomatic symptoms, and parental child-rearing attitudes, in that order. Conclusions: Suicide and suicidal behaviors are multifaceted events. For suicide prevention, there is a need to make an independent assessment of the variables such as familial problems, personality and dynamic environment of the families of the adolescents.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.37-50
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• 2024

Korea has the highest suicide rate among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, with increasing rates observed among children and adolescents with low levels of life satisfaction. Patients in these age groups exhibit particularly turbulent and impulsive behaviors, which make suicide highly contagious and fatal. The loss of meaningful work or activities increases the risk of suicide, especially in young people. Following revisions to the Mental Health Welfare Act (2016), which has included occupational therapists among mental health professionals, a multidisciplinary approach including occupational therapy has been emphasized upon in mental health services. Screening tools for preventing suicide in children and adolescents include the Suicidal Ideation Scale, Beck's Suicidal Ideation Scale, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Reasons for Living Scale for Adolescents, and the Student Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics Test. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, which is an occupational therapy evaluation tool, is also used. Various suicide prevention programs have been proposed across academic disciplines; however, due to the urgent nature of high-risk groups, there is a need for timely services. Currently, most existing programs focus primarily on the cognitive-behavioral aspects. In this study, we aimed to introduce diverse suicide prevention programs for mental health professionals working with high-risk children and adolescents in order to equip them with the relevant information and help apply their learnings effectively in different situations.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-25
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• 2017

Objectives: There is higher rates of experience of suicide ideation and suicide attempt of adolescents in the Lima and Callao region compared with the results of the epidemiological study (2013) conducted by Peru National Institute of Mental Health and the Global School-based Student Health Survey (2010) which is was conducted among adolescents across all regions of Peru. Based on the PRECEDE model, this study analyzed the prevalence and the factor associated with the suicide attempt among the adolescent in a poor urban area in Peru. Methods: A stratified random sampling was used for the survey to select study participants from the 6 secondary schools based in Comas or Callao. The survey was conducted November 25th and December 4th in 2015 and a total of 738 individuals included in the analysis. In order to analyze factors influencing suicide attempt, comparison of predisposing factor, reinforcing factor, enabling factor, behavioral factor, environmental factor, psychological factors by suicide attempt and suicide risk group were identified through the chi-square test and hierarchical logistic regression. Results: Results showed that those who reported having less parental understanding, less time spent with parents, and 'almost none/none' for parental affection had more experience of suicide attempt and were more likely to sort into the high suicide risk group. Also, a greater proportion of those with the experience of suicide attempt had more experience of smoking and alcohol consumption, and experience of physical abuse and feeling insulted and depression in comparison to that of those without experience of suicide attempt. Variables that had a significant effect on suicide attempt included depression, subjective happiness, smoking experience, sexual intercourse, involvement in fight, parental affection, and gender (male). Conclusions: The results of the current study can serve as grounds for the necessity of acknowledging that adolescent suicide does not simply depend on a couple of factors, but arises from situations in which individual, home, school, social factors influence one another, and therefore adolescent suicide should be prevented and addressed through a multi-dimensional and integrated approach.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2018

Purpose: The leading cause of death among teenagers in Korea is suicide. Also, it is known that mental health of Korean adolescents identified based on the levels of perceived stress or depression is very poor. The purpose of this study was to examine the current status of student mental health programs in Korea and the associated problems and to explore ways to make the programs more effective. Methods: The subjects of the study were a total of 115 school nurses and school counselors in elementary, middle and high schools. The study examined the current status and the associated problems of school mental health programs as well as the needs for teacher training programs related to student mental health. Results: Few mental health programs other than counseling for at-risk students were being carried out. The problems associated with student mental health management were, in terms of management, 'accountability in case of incidents such as student suicide' and 'parents uncooperative in their kid's mental health management (visit to hospital, etc.)' and, in terms of manpower, 'unclear R&R between school nurses and school counselors' and, more fundamentally, 'the lack of human resources.' The needs for teacher training programs related to student mental health were very high and the content required most was 'ways to manage stress of students and teachers themselves,' followed by 'interpersonal conflicts management & conservational skills,' and 'ways to manage student mental illness.' Conclusion: In conclusion, to increase the effectiveness of student mental health programs, we should move on from the current system which focuses only on early discovery and intervention to a more comprehensive system that includes preventive approaches, while having clearer R&R and more workforce dedicated to student mental health programs and attracting more parental cooperation and support.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine attitudes of middle-school students toward happiness, suicide, and factors associated with suicide. Methods : A self-administered questionnaire was used in a cluster sample of 1,319 middle-school students (male 793, female 526). Data were obtained on a wide range of constructs regarding their attitude towards happiness, suicidal ideation and attempts, and factors associated with suicide. Results : Middle-school students choose 'love within family' as most important factor for their happiness. Subjective mental health status was mostly associated with happiness. Subjects in lower socioeconomic status tended to respond their mental health status was not good and have more suicidal idea. 48.7% of subjects had permissive attitudes toward suicide, especially, girls. However, 65.0% responded that suicide was preventable problem. Compared to older people, middle-school students perceived that environmental factors were more important than innate and personal factors for suicide. Conclusion : Results of the study indicate that middle-school students have permissive attitudes toward suicide, but positive attitudes for the prevention of suicide. This suggest that education in these age group could be effective for the prevention of suicide. Also, approaches to suicide prevention programs should be developed based on the family intervention. Especially, we should care about girls and adolescents in lower socioeconomic status.