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Stephenson M, Prom-Wormley E, Lannoy S, Edwards AC. The temporal relationship between marriage and risk for suicidal ideation. J Affect Disord 2023; 343:129-135. [PMID: 37802325 PMCID: PMC10594900 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marriage is consistently identified as a protective factor for suicidality, but it remains unclear whether this relationship varies by time elapsed since the transition to marriage. METHODS Participants were 15,870 individuals (52 % female, mean age = 44.63 years, age range = 18-99 years) from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys. Cox proportional hazards models were used to test the relationship between marriage, as well as time elapsed since the transition to marriage (0-5 years, 6-10 years, or 11+ years), and suicidal ideation. Years of education and race and ethnicity were included as covariates, and analyses were stratified by sex. Separate hazard ratios were estimated for individuals aged <30 years and 30+ years to address violations of the proportionality assumption. RESULTS Being married was associated with lower risk for suicidal ideation across age and sex. Among individuals aged <30 years, marriage was reliably associated with lower risk for suicidal ideation, regardless of the time elapsed since marriage. For individuals aged 30+ years, being married for 0-5 years or 6-10 years was associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation, particularly in females. Being married for 11+ years was associated with decreased risk across sex. LIMITATIONS Analyses focused on participants' first marriage and did not examine mediators of the association between marriage and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS Overall, being married protects against suicidal ideation. However, among individuals aged 30 years or older, the first 10 years of marriage are associated with elevated risk for suicidal thoughts, and clinical outreach may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mallory Stephenson
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States of America.
| | | | - Séverine Lannoy
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States of America
| | - Alexis C Edwards
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States of America
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Lyngdoh M, Sundaram SP, Ningombam JD, Medhi GK. Suicidal ideation, attempts and its determinants among young adults in Meghalaya: a cross sectional study. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2023; 35:375-380. [PMID: 37470107 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2023-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Suicide is a major health issue in India. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have experienced loss on a tremendous scale. The impact of these losses on the youth will be massive leading to a rise in depression cases, suicidal ideation and ultimately suicidal attempts. Hence there is a need to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and the predictors for both suicidal ideation and attempts among the young adults in Meghalaya. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted among the students aged 18-25 years in NEIGRIHMS and Synod College in Shillong between March to April 2022. Data was collected by using questionnaire method. RESULTS The prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts was found to be 15.9 % (12.3-20.3) and 5.8 % (3.7-8.9) respectively. There was a strong relationship for suicidal ideation with urban students, with less family members, those who had unhealthy relationship with their parents, stress, complicated relationship/loss of loved ones and also those with experience of violence/abuse and behavioural problems. However, the attempts were found to be associated only with the loss of the loved ones. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence, though smaller is a serious concern considering the fact that the burden of suicides is on a rise and hence regular mental health counselling along with the management of the stress is needed at the educational institutional level which could prove to be beneficial to the students.
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Edwards AC, Gentry AE, Peterson RE, Webb BT, Mościcki EK. Multifaceted risk for non-suicidal self-injury only versus suicide attempt in a population-based cohort of adults. J Affect Disord 2023; 333:474-481. [PMID: 37084979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempt represent significant public health concerns. While these outcomes are related, there is prior evidence that their etiology does not entirely overlap. Efforts to directly differentiate risk across outcomes are uncommon, particularly among older, population-based cohorts. METHODS This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank. Data on individuals' self-reported history of non-suicidal self-injury only versus suicide attempt (maximum N = 6643) were analyzed. Applying LASSO and standard logistic regression, participants reporting one of these outcomes were assessed for differences across a range of sociodemographic, behavioral, and environmental features. RESULTS Sociodemographic features most strongly differentiated between the outcomes of non-suicidal self-injury only versus suicide attempt. Specifically, Black individuals were more likely to report a suicide attempt, as were those of mixed race, those endorsing higher levels of depressive symptoms or trauma history, and those who had experienced financial problems (odds ratios 1.02-3.92). Those more likely to engage in non-suicidal self-injury only were younger, female, had higher levels of education, those who resided with a partner, and those who had a recently injured relative. LIMITATIONS Differences in timing across correlates and outcomes preclude the ability to establish causal pathways. CONCLUSIONS The factors identified in the current study as differentially associated with non-suicidal self-injury only versus suicide attempt provide further evidence of at least partially distinct correlates, and warrant follow-up in independent samples to investigate causality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis C Edwards
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond 23298, VA, United States of America; Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298, VA, United States of America.
| | - Amanda Elswick Gentry
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond 23298, VA, United States of America; Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298, VA, United States of America
| | - Roseann E Peterson
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond 23298, VA, United States of America; Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298, VA, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Institute for Genomics in Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn 11205, NY, United States of America
| | - Bradley T Webb
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond 23298, VA, United States of America; Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298, VA, United States of America; GenOmics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center, Biostatistics and Epidemiology Division, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States of America
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Elderly suicides in Turkey. J Forensic Leg Med 2023; 95:102498. [PMID: 36774783 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2023.102498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Due to the unique physical and psychosocial characteristics of this age group, it is expected that the characteristics of elderly suicides are different from other groups. Knowing the characteristics of elderly suicides guides prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics, methods and reasons for suicide in elderly suicide cases using the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute between 2002 and 2019. Of the completed suicides among older adults, 4,208 (74%) cases were men and 1,481 (26%) were women. Crude suicide rates of all elderly age groups were higher than the general population. Illness was the most common reason for suicide. The second leading cause of suicide was marital conflicts in women, while financial difficulties were observed in men. Hanging was the most common method in both genders. It is remarkable that the use of gunshot considerably increases as years progress and the ratio of men (n:962) to women (n:16) reach 60. Considering these findings together with epidemiologic data predicting that this increase in the elderly population will almost double within less than 30 years, it is apparent that suicide is a major issue among older adults.
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Özsoy F, Taşcı G, Kulu M, Okan F, Yılmaz S, Korkmaz S, Atmaca M. Stigmas and childhood traumas associated with psychological help-seeking in suicide attempted individuals. Perspect Psychiatr Care 2022; 58:2970-2977. [PMID: 35975396 DOI: 10.1111/ppc.13148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim was to investigate the possible associations of suicide attempt with childhood trauma, social support, psychological support seeking, stigmatizations. The study was case-control study and included 100 participants (50 suicide, 50 controls). CONCLUSION BDI, BAI scores were higher in the patient (p < 0.001). While scores of all-subscales of Childhood-Trauma-Questionnaire were higher (p < 0.05) in the patients, scores of Perceived-Social-Support were lower (p < 0.001). Repeating suicide attempts has higher Stigma-Scale-for-Receiving-Psychological-Help scores than the patients who attempted to the first time (p = 0.045). PRACTICE IMPLICATION Suicide is relationship with more childhood traumas, less social support. Repeating suicide attempts, individuals felt public stigma for receiving psychological help.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filiz Özsoy
- Department of Psychiatry, Gaziosmanpaşa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey
| | - Gülay Taşcı
- Department of Psychiatry, Elazig Fethi Sekin City Hospital, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Müberra Kulu
- Department of Psychiatry, Tokat State Hospital, Tokat, Turkey
| | - Fatih Okan
- Public Health Nursing, Gaziosmanpaşa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey
| | - Seda Yılmaz
- Department of Psychiatry, Elazıg Medical Park Hospital, Istınye University, Elazıg, Turkey
| | - Sevda Korkmaz
- Department of Psychiatry, Fırat University School of Medicine, Elazıg, Turkey
| | - Murad Atmaca
- Department of Psychiatry, Fırat University School of Medicine, Elazıg, Turkey
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Zeybek V, Yetiş H, İzci A, Acar K. Elderly suicides in Denizli, Turkey: a retrospective study from 2011 to 2020. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s41935-022-00263-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Although suicide rates and methods used may vary according to society, gender, and age there are epidemiological studies reporting that suicide rates increase with advanced age in all societies, particularly accelerating after the age of 65 years. This study aimed to investigate the demographic data and suicide characteristics—such as the location and method, among others—of the elderly suicide deaths among forensic deaths between 2011 and 2020 in Denizli, Turkey.
Results
It was determined that elderly suicides constituted 13.8% of all suicides and increased gradually over the years during the 10-year period. The vast majority of cases were male (82%). It has been observed that hanging is the most frequently used method. It is also noteworthy that although firearm suicide among men was the second most common method, women do not choose this method at all. The majority of elderly suicides (88.5%) in Denizli occurred in the home and its annexes.
Conclusions
Suicide prevention programmes should promote the elderly to benefit widely from social and health services. Therefore, there is a need to include widespread home care services and firearms regulations in prevention programmes.
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Swain PK, Tripathy MR, Priyadarshini S, Acharya SK. Forecasting suicide rates in India: An empirical exposition. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255342. [PMID: 34324554 PMCID: PMC8321128 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Suicide is a major social and health issue in India. Yearly statistics show a concerning increasing pattern of suicidal deaths in India which is higher in comparison to the global trend. There is limited evidence regarding historical analysis of suicide or any forecasting for suicide in India towards predicting the possible risks of death due to suicide. METHODS This paper examines the trend of suicide rate and characteristics of suicide victims in India, based on the longitudinal time series data over the last 50 years-collected from the National Crime Record Bureau Reports (1969 to 2018) of the Government of India. In our analysis, we have used the time series model to forecast the suicide rates in India for the next decade. ARIMA (4,1,0) model is found to be the best fit model for forecasting the data. FINDINGS There has been an observable and rising trend of suicide rates in India over the last five decades. The forecast indicates a continuance of rising suicide cases for an upcoming couple of years in India with a limited decline in the following years. The prediction model indicates a future relatively consistent pattern of suicide in India which does not seem to be a very encouraging trend. As we have not included the period staring the year 2020 onwards affected by Covid-19 and which has several disruptions in personal and family spaces, the projected suicide trend during the period of next two to three years (2020-22) may rise far high and then it may show a declining path. Along with this, there is a shift in means of suicide in the last couple of decades. Constituting the second-highest number of cases, Illness associated suicide was visibly a serious concern. CONCLUSION The present analysis finds that there is no visible substantial relief for suicide deaths during the coming years in India. On the other hand, more extensive exploration of sample cases may provide important information for suicide prevention. Availability of detailed and more inclusive data will be highly useful for analysis and suicide preventive policies. Investment in public health care and other welfare activities like education and employment generation will yield visible positive results in suicide control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Subhadra Priyadarshini
- Department of Statistics, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- Department of Research and Development, Kalinga Institute of Medical Science, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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Yang BR, Heo KN, Yu YM, Yeom GB, Choi HD, Lee JY, Ah YM. Interrupted Time Series Analysis of Changes in Zolpidem Use Due to Media Broadcasts. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18105114. [PMID: 34065935 PMCID: PMC8150593 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Media has become a major source of information on health and plays a role in the decision-making process on health topics. We aimed to evaluate the association between zolpidem use and media broadcasts that reported the suicide risk. We obtained the data of adult outpatients who have been prescribed zolpidem or other hypnotics from the National Patient Sample database (2015–2017). We evaluated the change in zolpidem or other hypnotic prescription trends based on the prescription rate and average daily prescribed dose before and after July 2016, using interrupted time series analysis. A total of 129,787 adult patients had at least one zolpidem prescription in 3 years. The prescription rate of zolpidem after the broadcast decreased significantly by 0.178% (95% confidence interval (CI): −0.214, −0.142), whereas that of other hypnotic users did not differ from that before the broadcast (−0.020%, 95% CI: −0.088, 0.047). However, the trends in the prescription rate before and after the broadcast did not differ for zolpidem and other hypnotics. Broadcasting medication safety through major public media could have an effect on medication use. After broadcasting about the suicide risk of zolpidem, its overall prescription rate decreased immediately, but the trend was not changed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Ram Yang
- College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea;
| | - Kyu-Nam Heo
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea;
| | - Yun Mi Yu
- Department of Pharmacy and Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Korea;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Medicine and Regulatory Sciences, Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Korea
| | - Ga-Bin Yeom
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea; (G.-B.Y.); (H.D.C.)
| | - Hye Duck Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea; (G.-B.Y.); (H.D.C.)
| | - Ju-Yeun Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea;
- Correspondence: (J.-Y.L.); (Y.-M.A.); Tel.: +82-2-3668-7472 (J.-Y.L.); +82-53-810-2823 (Y.-M.A.)
| | - Young-Mi Ah
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea; (G.-B.Y.); (H.D.C.)
- Correspondence: (J.-Y.L.); (Y.-M.A.); Tel.: +82-2-3668-7472 (J.-Y.L.); +82-53-810-2823 (Y.-M.A.)
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Lee J, Kim H, Woo J, Chang SM, Hong JP, Lee DW, Hahm BJ, Cho SJ, Park JI, Jeon HJ, Seong SJ, Park JE, Kim BS. Impacts of Remaining Single above the Mean Marriage Age on Mental Disorders and Suicidality: a Nationwide Study in Korea. J Korean Med Sci 2020; 35:e319. [PMID: 32959544 PMCID: PMC7505730 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigated the impact of getting older than the mean marriage age on mental disorders and suicidality among never-married people. METHODS We performed an epidemiological survey, a nationwide study of mental disorders, in 2016. In this study, a multi-stage cluster sampling was adopted. The Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was conducted with 5,102 respondents aged 18 years or above. The associations between never-married status, mental disorders, and suicidality were explored according to whether the mean age of first marriage (men = 32.8 years; women = 30.1 years) had passed. RESULTS Never-married status over the mean marriage age was associated with agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mood disorders, and major depressive disorder after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Respondents with never-married status above the mean marriage age were associated with suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-7.60) after controlling for sociodemographic factors and lifetime prevalence of mental disorders, while respondents with never-married status under the mean marriage age were not. Moreover, in respondents with never-married status, getting older than the mean marriage age was associated with suicidal ideations (aOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.04-2.15) and suicide attempts (aOR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.46-7.84) after controlling for sociodemographic factors and lifetime prevalence of mental disorders. CONCLUSION Never-married status above the mean first marriage age was associated with mental disorders and suicidality. These findings suggest the need for a national strategy to develop an environment where people with never-married status do not suffer even if their marriage is delayed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimin Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hyerim Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jungmin Woo
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Sung Man Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jin Pyo Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dong Woo Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bong Jin Hahm
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seong Jin Cho
- Department of Psychiatry, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
| | - Jong Ik Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Hong Jin Jeon
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Su Jeong Seong
- Department of Psychiatry, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jee Eun Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byung Soo Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
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Prinsloo C, Prinsloo A. A Qualitative Exploration of South Korean Emerging Adults' Perspectives on Death and Suicide Through Short Stories. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2019; 84:245-266. [PMID: 31726937 DOI: 10.1177/0030222819887248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite the alarming suicide rate among South Korean emerging adults, relatively little is known about their unfettered perspectives on death and suicide. Therefore, an innovative data collection technique was developed to apprehend the meanings that emerging adults attribute to death and suicide in their explorations of the phenomena through a selection of short stories. A convenience sample (N = 114) responded to a survey in which participants transferred their feelings toward death and suicide to characters or events in the short stories. A qualitative content analysis revealed relatively permissive perspectives toward death and suicide. Negative perspectives on death are associated with societal victimization and positive perspectives with naturalistic fatalism. Positive perspectives on suicide are overwhelmingly rooted in existential, individual choices while negative perspectives focus on societal pressures. These perspectives contribute to illuminating tensions between traditionalist collectivism and contemporary individualism in Korean society that could inform suicide prevention initiatives for emerging adults.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adri Prinsloo
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Kim JW, Jung HY, Won DY, Shin YS, Noh JH, Kang TI. Landscape of Elderly Suicide in South Korea: Its Trend According to Age, Gender, and Educational Attainment. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2018; 82:214-229. [PMID: 30360680 DOI: 10.1177/0030222818807845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, and the most alarming suicide rate is among its elders. This study aims to understand the social, historical, and cultural context of the Korean older adults and examine suicide trends based on that understanding. The results show that the suicide risk increases with age, the male suicide rate outweighs that of females, and the suicide rate decreases with educational attainment. In addition, several suggestions for reducing elderly suicide rate are addressed, including differentiating the existing social services for elders by age and expanding suicide prevention programs beyond schools to communities so that all people in need can access them.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Kim
- Department of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - H Y Jung
- Department of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Research Institute of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - D Y Won
- Department of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Y S Shin
- Research Institute of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - J H Noh
- Department of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Baekseok University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - T I Kang
- Department of Social Welfare, Daelim University, Anyang, Republic of Korea.,Choong Hyun Community Welfare Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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