Year: 2015
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: In 2011, Kentucky high school students were no more likely than their U.S. peers to be seriously considering suicide or planning to attempt suicide, yet Kentucky students were significantly more likely to carry out their suicide plan 1. It is not clear why Kentucky students were more likely to follow through with their suicide plan. One explanation could be that adolescents often make decisions on impulse and easy access to firearms and lack of engagement with their support network lead to making a serious/fatal suicide attempt. A study of 82 psychiatric patients post-suicide attempts found that although about 83 % of patients were alone when the decision (87%) to commit suicide came about, 76 % had personal contact with a family member, partner, or friend via phone during which 25-40% hinted of their wish to die 2. Kentucky residents need to better identify/recognize students at risk for suicide and who are planning suicide, so that future attempts can be prevented. When it comes to risk factors, Kentucky adolescents have a specific set of risk behaviors with a higher prevalence than their U.S. peers. For example, in 2011, when suicide attempts peaked,
Authors: Dessi Slavova, Hatim Α. Omar
Institution: University of Kentucky
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1700727640