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McLaren S. Rurality, reasons for living, and suicidal ideation among Australian men. DEATH STUDIES 2020; 46:1853-1861. [PMID: 33345725 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1863520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Within Australia, men who reside in rural areas are at higher risk for suicide compared to men who reside in more populated areas. The aim of the current study was to examine the role that fewer reasons for living might play in the higher rates of suicide among men who reside in rural areas by testing a mediation model. Given the protective nature of reasons for living, I proposed that rurality would be associated with fewer reasons for living which, in turn, would be associated with higher levels of suicidal ideation. A convenience sample of 609 Australian men aged from 18 to 90 years (M = 51.42, SD = 20.61) completed the Reasons for Living Inventory and the suicide subscale of the General Health Questionnaire. The mediation model was supported for Survival and Coping Beliefs, Responsibility to Family, Child-related Concerns, and Moral Objections. In addition, rurality was directly associated with higher levels of suicidal ideation. Results indicate that increasing four key reasons for living among men who live in rural areas may be beneficial for their mental health. Identifying other protective factors is important to reduce suicide among rural men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne McLaren
- School of Science, Psychology and Sport, Federation University, Ballarat, Australia
- School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, Australia
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Davaasambuu S, Batbaatar S, Witte S, Hamid P, Oquendo MA, Kleinman M, Olivares M, Gould M. Suicidal Plans and Attempts Among Adolescents in Mongolia. CRISIS 2017; 38:330-343. [PMID: 28228061 DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although 75% of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries, few studies have examined suicidal behaviors among young people in these countries. AIMS This study aimed to examine what individual characteristics were associated with suicidal plans and attempts among Mongolian youth and whether suicidal risks and behaviors varied by urban and rural locations. METHOD Logistic regression analyses were utilized to investigate suicidal plans and attempts among 5,393 adolescents using the Global Student Health Survey - 2013. RESULTS Adolescents who lived in urban areas were at higher risk for suicidal plans and behaviors than those who lived in rural areas; however, the patterns of suicidal risks were similar. Specifically, individual characteristics, such as being female, feeling lonely and worried, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and having fights at school, were associated with suicidal plans and behaviors regardless of the residential places. LIMITATIONS A number of important variables have not been included in the questionnaire such as depression, family and parental support, household income, family constructs etc. CONCLUSION Given the comparable patterns of risk between urban and rural adolescents and the relatively high rates of suicidal plans and attempts, similar mental health services and interventions are necessitated for both urban and rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarantsetseg Davaasambuu
- 1 Global Mental Health Fellowship Program, Department of Psychiatry Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Suvd Batbaatar
- 2 Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Susan Witte
- 3 School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Phillip Hamid
- 1 Global Mental Health Fellowship Program, Department of Psychiatry Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria A Oquendo
- 1 Global Mental Health Fellowship Program, Department of Psychiatry Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,4 Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.,5 Departments of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marjorie Kleinman
- 6 Epidemiology of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Olivares
- 6 Epidemiology of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Madelyn Gould
- 6 Epidemiology of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Penn DL, Simpson L, Edie G, Leggett S, Wood L, Hawgood J, Krysinska K, Yellowlees P, De Leo D. Development of ACROSSnet: an online support system for rural and remote community suicide prevention workers in Queensland, Australia. Health Informatics J 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/1460458205058755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Communication and information technologies can reduce the barriers of distance and space that disadvantage communities in Australia's underserved rural areas, where the health status of residents is often worse than that of their urban counterparts. ACROSSnet (Australians Creating Rural Online Support Systems) is a 3 year collaborative action research project that aims to design and develop an online support system that will assist rural communities in accessing information, education and support regarding suicide and its prevention, whilst considering the challenges of Internet speed, cost and availability that can impede the delivery of online services. The site provides three distinct levels of access: one level for community members, and two further levels for appropriately credentialled mental health workers. In creating this environment, the ACROSSnet team hopes that online communities of practice will develop, engaging participants of different ages, income and education levels, location, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L. Penn
- Service Leadership Innovation and Research Program, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia,
| | - Lyn Simpson
- Service Leadership Innovation and Research Program, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia,
| | - Gavin Edie
- Service Leadership Innovation and Research Program, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia,
| | - Susan Leggett
- Service Leadership Innovation and Research Program, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia,
| | - Leanne Wood
- Service Leadership Innovation and Research Program, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia,
| | - Jacinta Hawgood
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP), Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Brisbane QLD 4111, Australia,
| | - Karolina Krysinska
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP), Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Brisbane QLD 4111, Australia,
| | - Peter Yellowlees
- UC Davis, Suite 2631, Administrative Support Building 2450, 48th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA,
| | - Diego De Leo
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP), Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Brisbane QLD 4111, Australia,
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Pillay N, Ramlall S, Burns JK. Spirituality, depression and quality of life in medical students in KwaZulu-Natal. S Afr J Psychiatr 2016; 22:731. [PMID: 30263152 PMCID: PMC6138166 DOI: 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v22i1.731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of studies on spirituality demonstrate its positive association with mental health. Despite the increasing number of studies, there remains a dearth of studies emanating from African countries looking at the relationship between mental illness, quality of life and measures of spirituality. The present study evaluates the role of spirituality in relation to current depression and quality of life in medical students, who are known to be at high risk for depression. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of moderate and severe depressive symptoms in this population and explore potential correlations between spirituality, depression and quality of life. METHODS 230 medical students were surveyed at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Medical School, using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (Zung SDS), Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale (SIBS), WHO Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL) and a demographic data sheet. RESULTS There was a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in the medical students, with a significant proportion (15.6%) showing evidence of severe depressive symptoms (indicating likely depressive illness). Those with a history of mental illness or of having attended traditional, complementary or alternate medical practitioners showed higher levels of depression. Lower spirituality was associated with non-adherence to a major religion and a history of mental illness. Quality of life was better in second and fifth year students and poorer in those with a history of mental illness. CONCLUSION Medical students' experiences of depression (most probably due to stress) and its relationship with spirituality and quality of life merit further investigation with a view to establishing policy guidelines for dealing with this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narushni Pillay
- Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Suvira Ramlall
- Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Jonathan K. Burns
- Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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Hatala AR. Towards a Biopsychosocial–Spiritual Approach in Health Psychology: Exploring Theoretical Orientations and Future Directions. JOURNAL OF SPIRITUALITY IN MENTAL HEALTH 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/19349637.2013.776448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Kapusta ND, Zorman A, Etzersdorfer E, Ponocny-Seliger E, Jandl-Jager E, Sonneck G. Rural-urban differences in Austrian suicides. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2008; 43:311-8. [PMID: 18264807 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-008-0317-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2007] [Accepted: 01/21/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The answer to the question whether suicide rates are higher in urban than in rural areas may have changed over the years. This study analyzes the longitudinal trends of rural and urban suicides in Austria from 1970 to 2005. The most recent decade, 1995-2005 was also investigated cross-sectionally in terms of age groups, gender, suicide methods and family status. METHODS Official suicide statistics were calculated in a Poisson regression model to determine trends in suicide rates according to gender in rural and urban regions as well as the ratios of rural- to urban-suicide rates. Population density levels were used as a measure of urbanization. Differences in suicide rates across the rural-urban categories were investigated in terms of genders, age groups, suicide methods and family status using Spearman correlations. RESULTS The ratio of rural to urban suicide rates has continuously increased in both genders over the past 35 years, indicating a growing risk in rural areas. Suicide methods used in rural and urban areas vary significantly and suicide rates among men, but not women, were found to decrease with increasing urbanicity. CONCLUSION In line with recent findings from other western countries, we showed a growing gap between rural and urban suicide rates. This suggests a need for rural-specific suicide prevention efforts, especially aimed at the male rural population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor D Kapusta
- Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Gorman D, Buikstra E, Hegney D, Pearce S, Rogers-Clark C, Weir J, McCullagh B. Rural men and mental health: their experiences and how they managed. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2007; 16:298-306. [PMID: 17845549 DOI: 10.1111/j.1447-0349.2007.00484.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
There is a growing awareness that a primary source of information about mental health lies with the consumers. This paper reports on a study that interviewed rural men with the aim of exploring their mental health experiences within a rural environment. The results of the interviews are a number of stories of resilience and survival that highlight not only the importance of exploring the individuals' perspective of their issues, but also of acknowledging and drawing on their inner strengths. Rural men face a number of challenges that not only increase the risk of mental illness but also decrease the likelihood of them seeking and/or finding professional support. These men's stories, while different from each other, have a common thread of coping. Despite some support from family and friends, participants also acknowledged that seeking out professional support could have made the recovery phase easier. Mental health nurses need to be aware, not only of the barrier to professional support but also of the significant resilience that individuals have and how it can be used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don Gorman
- Department of Nursing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
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