The Predictive Role of Positive Mental Health for Attitudes Towards Suicide and Suicide Prevention: Is the Well-Being of Students of the Helping Professions a Worthwhile Goal for Suicide Prevention?

Attitudes of Emergency Department Staff Toward Individuals Who Have Attempted Suicide and Associated Factors

PURPOSE

To determine the attitudes of emergency department (ED) staff toward people who have attempted suicide and the factors associated with these attitudes.

METHOD

This study was conducted between January and February 2023 and included 147 participants working in an ED in a city in Türkiye. Data were collected using a personal information form and the Attitude Scale Towards Attempted Suicide Cases for Evaluating Emergency Medical Teams (ASETSA).

RESULTS

Participants' mean years of experience in emergency services was 4.63 years (SD = 3.97 years) and mean perceived level of competence in intervening in suicidal behavior was 6.08 (SD = 2.16). Total mean ASETSA score of participants was 114.68 (SD = 12.31). Factors such as marital status, educational level, profession, working unit, working shift, having received training on how to approach a person who has attempted suicide, existence of a written procedure in the department, years of ED experience, and perceived level of competence in intervening in suicidal behavior were associated with positive attitudes toward people who have attempted suicide.

CONCLUSION

It is recommended that formal education curricula address how to approach people who have attempted suicide, that randomized controlled trials regarding the impact of in-service training be performed, and that studies evaluating the contribution of trainings to improvements in patient outcomes be conducted. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].

Relationships between psychological characteristics, academic fit and engagement with academic performance in veterinary medical students

BACKGROUND

Recognition of the factors that influence academic performance in university students constitutes one of the key objectives of education researchers. Few studies have been conducted in this sphere in relation to veterinary students; however, considering the high levels of depression, anxiety symptoms, and decreased life satisfaction revealed in recent literature for this demographic, understanding these factors is of great importance. Moreover, the literature on veterinary education has mostly focused on cognitive factors as antecedents to academic performance, while very little attention has been directed toward personal characteristics.

METHODS

The present cross-sectional study aims to investigate the relationships between psychological characteristics (internal locus of control and self-efficacy), academic fit, well-being (engagement and exhaustion), and academic performance (average grade) among veterinary students. The study was conducted in the Department of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Turin between September 2021 and January 2022 involving 231 students.

RESULTS

The results of the Structural Equation Model confirmed a positive relationship between both internal locus of control and self-efficacy and academic fit, which in turn showed a positive relationship with engagement and a negative relationship with exhaustion. Finally, a significant positive relationship between engagement and academic performance was highlighted. Indirect effects were also significant, confirming the mediating role of academic fit and engagement.

CONCLUSIONS

The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the direct and indirect relationships among the variables selected in a sample group of veterinary students. These findings provide information for practical interventions that could support the academic experience and prospects of veterinary students by improving their psychological parameters and well-being.

Factors Affecting Happiness Among Rural Residents: A Cross Sectional Survey

This cross-sectional and descriptive study aimed to investigate factors that affected the happiness of rural residents. The study used a convenience sample consisting of 1029 Korean rural residents from the Gyeong-gi Province collected between November and December 2014. The results found that people aged 60 and over were happier than those between 15 and 19 years old. Happiness was correlated with age, income, violence, social support, subjective health, depression, and suicidal ideation. Factors affecting the happiness of rural residents were depression, social support, suicidal ideation, and age, and these factors explained 48.0% of the variance in happiness. The results demonstrate that the happiness of rural residents was affected by various psychological factors and supportive intervention should be developed to enhance the happiness of people living in rural areas.