Suicide Risk Profile and the Social Convoy: Population-level Patterns of Youths’ Help-seeking Behavior and Implications for Suicide Prevention

Author(s):  
Alvin Junus ◽  
Paul Siu Fai Yip
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Ssebunnya ◽  
Caroline Kituyi ◽  
Justine Nabanoba ◽  
Juliet Nakku ◽  
Arvin Bhana ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Alcohol use is part of many cultural, religious and social practices, and provides perceived pleasure to many users. In many societies, alcoholic beverages are a routine part of the social landscape for many in the population. Relatively low rates were reported for Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) in a community-based survey and facility detection survey conducted in the study site contrary to findings in earlier formative studies where alcohol use was reported to be a major health problem. The aim of this study was to understand the reasons for under-reporting and the low detection rate for AUDs, exploring societal perceptions of alcohol use in the study district.Methods: The study was conducted in Kamuli District (implementation site for the PRIME project). Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with purposively selected participants that included local and religious leaders, lay people, health workers as well as heavy alcohol drinkers and their spouses. Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The analysis followed four thematic areas, which include the extent and acceptability of alcohol use, patterns of alcohol use, perceived health problems associated with alcohol use and help-seeking behavior for persons with alcohol related problems.Results: The findings indicate that alcohol consumption in the study site was common and widely acceptable across all categories of people and only frowned upon if the person becomes a nuisance to others. These findings suggest that the health problems associated with alcohol use are overlooked except when they are life-threatening. Help-seeking for such problems was therefore reported to be relatively rare.Conclusion: Alcohol was readily available in the community and its consumption widely acceptable, with less social sanctions despite the legal restrictions to the minors. The social acceptance results in low recognition of alcohol use related health problems, consequently resulting in poor help-seeking behavior.


2005 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. Spilsbury

A study of children’s help-seeking behavior in 5 Cleveland, Ohio (USA) neighborhoods revealed the important role played by particular members of neighborhood institutions and establishments not commonly considered in research on children’s social networks: the school crossing guard, the librarian at the local public library branch, and the store owner/clerk at the neighborhood convenience store. These roles—above and beyond their “position descriptions”—ranged from provisioner of winter clothing in the case of crossing guards to mediator of child disputes in the case of public librarians. Moreover, crossing guards, librarians, and store owners/clerks were identi?ed by some children as resources for dealing with bullies. The implications of these unrecognized supportive roles are discussed.


Sexes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-271
Author(s):  
Katerina Lathiotaki ◽  
Kleio Koutra ◽  
Nikoleta Ratsika ◽  
Denise Saint Arnault

In a society where women still suffer from oppression and injustice, research on gender-based violence (GBV) and trauma recovery path is considered a priority. Specifically, it was to be researched how the social and cultural obstacles can affect the help-seeking behavior of Greek women who experienced GBV. The data of this qualitative research were collected through narrative interviews and the analysis was carried out with the thematic analysis. The significant findings of the research were that the feelings of the women changed through the violent relationship, with the feelings of betrayal, guilt, and shame dominating. Moreover, the relative network was not notably utilized, while it seems that the women who utilized their social network were helped to evolve. Additionally, the feelings of guilt and shame stood out as an obstacle to help-seeking behavior and the functionality of the women was reduced on multiple levels during the period in which they experienced gender-based violence. Finally, the physical symptoms of the women during that period, such as musculoskeletal pain, numbing, and gastrointestinal problems, evoke great interest.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janette A. Hamilton ◽  
Steven J. Danish ◽  
Paul B. Perrin ◽  
Scott D. McDonald

Author(s):  
Suzaily Wahab ◽  
Nicholas Elam Shah ◽  
Sarmeswaran Sivachandran ◽  
Izzati Shahruddin ◽  
Nik Nor Shaida Ismail ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The attitude of medical personnel towards suicide may influence the outcome of suicidal-patients management. This study aimed to determine the attitudes of medical undergraduates towards suicide and its association with their help-seeking behavior. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 290 medical undergraduates was conducted in a Malaysian university. The questionnaires on the attitude towards suicide and general help-seeking behavior were used as research instruments. Results The mean age of the participants was 22.4 years. Participants who did psychiatry posting indicated a greater tendency to agree on suicide as a way of communication (p = 0.008) than those who did not. Participants previously diagnosed with a psychiatric illness indicated a greater ability to understand and accept suicide (p < 0.001) as well as a greater tendency to agree on the normality of suicide (p = 0.019) than those without a previous diagnosis. Those who attended a suicide prevention program also indicated a greater tendency to agree that loneliness and avoidance could be triggers to suicide (p = 0.037) than those who did not. No correlation was found between the “attitude towards suicide” and “general help-seeking behavior” variable. Conclusion Education programs in suicide prevention and management need to be incorporated early into the undergraduate medical curriculum to cultivate a more positive attitude towards suicide and help-seeking behavior.


Crisis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie Klimes-Dougan ◽  
David A. Klingbeil ◽  
Sarah J. Meller

Background: While the ultimate goal of adolescent suicide-prevention efforts is to decrease the incidence of death by suicide, a critical intermediary goal is directing youths toward effective sources of assistance. Aim: To comprehensively review the universal prevention literature and examine the effects of universal prevention programs on student’s attitudes and behaviors related to help-seeking. Method: We systematically reviewed studies that assessed help-seeking outcomes including prevention efforts utilizing (1) psychoeducational curricula, (2) gatekeeper training, and (3) public service messaging directed at youths. Of the studies reviewed, 17 studies evaluated the help-seeking outcomes. These studies were identified through a range of sources (e.g., searching online databases, examining references of published articles on suicide prevention). Results: The results of this review suggest that suicide-prevention programming has a limited impact on help-seeking behavior. Although there was some evidence that suicide-prevention programs had a positive impact on students’ help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, there was also evidence of no effects or iatrogenic effects. Sex and risk status were moderators of program effects on students help-seeking. Conclusions: Caution is warranted when considering which suicidal prevention interventions best optimize the intended goals. The impact on adolescents’ help-seeking behavior is a key concern for educators and mental-health professionals.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsiu-Lan Cheng ◽  
Richard Martinez ◽  
Jessica L. Jackson ◽  
Casey N. Durham ◽  
Jill K. Peters ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay F. Kujawa ◽  
Erin L. Martin ◽  
Astrid S. Dcunha ◽  
Rachel L. Navarro ◽  
Shawn M. Whiting ◽  
...  

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