Coping with peer suicidality, help-seeking intentions, and suicidal attitudes among Asian adolescents: a mixed-methods study in Hong Kong

IF 6.8 3区医学 Q1 PEDIATRICS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Pub Date : 2024-12-18 DOI:10.1111/camh.12757

Sikky Shiqi Chen, Tai Pong Lam, Kwok Fai Lam, Tak Lam Lo, David Vai Kiong Chao, Ki Yan Mak, Edmund Wing Wo Lam, Wai Sin Tang, Hoi Yan Chan, Paul Siu Fai Yip

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Abstract

Background

Adaptive responses to peer suicidality and the involvement of professional help are crucial for adolescent suicide prevention and may be influenced by suicidal attitudes. This study aimed to explore Hong Kong adolescents' responses to and help-seeking intentions for suicidal peers and to examine the influence of suicidal attitudes.

Method

This study used an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach targeting Hong Kong adolescents aged 15–19 between September 2018 and October 2019. Adolescents' reactions to peer suicidality, suicidal attitudes, and willingness to help were examined through six focus groups and 12 individual interviews (N = 40). A cross-sectional survey (N = 1676) was subsequently conducted to investigate the prevalence of different responses to peer suicidality, help-seeking intentions, differences by background characteristics, and the impacts of suicidal attitudes.

Results

Qualitative findings revealed three major themes: attitudes toward suicide, reactions to peer distress and suicidality, and willingness to help suicidal individuals. Most survey respondents reported actively responding and seeking informal help, but not professional support. Differences were observed based on sex, academic performance, and self-suicidality. Notably, a stigmatizing attitude was positively associated with both response types and informal help-seeking intentions. The belief that suicide is unpreventable was positively associated with passive responses but negatively associated with active responses and informal help-seeking intentions.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight variability in adolescents' responses to peer suicidality and help-seeking intentions, underscoring the need for attitude-tailored courses and more systematic, action-based gatekeeper training. Recommendations are provided to enhance the effectiveness of mental health first aid programs through public education, school interventions, and media campaigns.

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亚洲青少年应对同伴自杀、求助意向和自杀态度：一项在香港开展的混合方法研究。

背景：同伴自杀的适应性反应和专业帮助的参与对青少年自杀预防至关重要，并可能受到自杀态度的影响。本研究旨在探讨香港青少年对自杀同伴的反应和求助意向，并探讨自杀态度的影响。方法：本研究采用探索性顺序混合方法，研究对象为2018年9月至2019年10月期间15-19岁的香港青少年。通过6个焦点小组和12个个人访谈（N = 40）考察了青少年对同伴自杀的反应、自杀态度和帮助意愿。随后进行了一项横断面调查（N = 1676），调查了同伴自杀的患病率、寻求帮助的意图、背景特征的差异以及自杀态度的影响。结果：定性研究结果揭示了三个主要主题：对自杀的态度，对同伴痛苦和自杀的反应，以及帮助自杀个体的意愿。大多数调查对象都积极回应并寻求非正式的帮助，而不是专业的支持。根据性别、学习成绩和自杀倾向观察到差异。值得注意的是，污名化态度与反应类型和非正式求助意图均呈正相关。相信自杀是不可预防的与被动反应呈正相关，但与主动反应和非正式寻求帮助的意图负相关。结论：我们的研究结果强调了青少年对同伴自杀和寻求帮助意图的反应的差异性，强调了针对态度的课程和更系统的、基于行动的看门人培训的必要性。建议通过公共教育、学校干预和媒体宣传来提高心理健康急救项目的有效性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Child and Adolescent Mental Health PEDIATRICS-PSYCHIATRY

CiteScore

8.30

自引率

3.30%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) publishes high quality, peer-reviewed child and adolescent mental health services research of relevance to academics, clinicians and commissioners internationally. The journal''s principal aim is to foster evidence-based clinical practice and clinically orientated research among clinicians and health services researchers working with children and adolescents, parents and their families in relation to or with a particular interest in mental health. CAMH publishes reviews, original articles, and pilot reports of innovative approaches, interventions, clinical methods and service developments. The journal has regular sections on Measurement Issues, Innovations in Practice, Global Child Mental Health and Humanities. All published papers should be of direct relevance to mental health practitioners and clearly draw out clinical implications for the field.