The prevalence and psychosocial correlates of suicide attempts among inpatient adolescent offspring of Croatian PTSD male war veterans

A scoping review of military and Veteran families within international suicidality and suicide prevention research

The impacts of suicidality on families are well known, which is particularly relevant in at-risk populations, such as active duty military personnel and Veteran communities. This scoping review describes how military and Veteran families have been conceptualized within suicide prevention research. A systematic, multi-database search was conducted, and 4,835 studies were screened. All included studies underwent quality assessment. Bibliographic, participant, methodological, and family-relevant data was extracted and descriptively analyzed into Factors, Actors, and Impacts. In total, 51 studies (2007 - 2021) were included. Most studies focused on suicidality rather than suicide prevention. Factor studies described family constructs as a suicidality risk or protective factor for military personnel or Veterans. Actor studies described families' roles or responsibilities to act in relation to the suicidality of military personnel or Veterans. Impacts studies described the impacts of suicidality on military and Veteran family members. The search was limited to English language studies. There were few studies on suicide prevention interventions for or including military and Veteran family members. Family was typically considered peripheral to the military personnel or Veteran experiencing suicidality. However, there was also emerging evidence of suicidality and its consequences in military-connected family members.

Predicting prolonged non-suicidal self-injury behaviour and suicidal ideations in adolescence - the role of personal and environmental factors

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents and repetitional suicidal ideations (SI) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) often precede it. In order to improve recognition of youth who are at high risk of suicide, current study aims to identify which individual variables (personality, self-concept and adverse childhood experiences - ACE) predict prolonged NSSI and SI from middle to late adolescence. A 3-year longitudinal study was conducted with 1101 Croatian adolescents (aged 15-17). 181 students (72.4% females) reported either NSSI or SI or both in T1 and were included in all waves of the study. Analyses are focused on differentiation between adolescents who continue with NSSI/SI and those who stop with it in a 3-year period. Results showed that adolescents with prolonged NSSI/SI had more ACE, especially domestic violence, worse family financial status, higher neuroticism and lower results on self-concept variables. The prediction model of classification of those who have prolonged NSSI or SI was better for SI than NSSI, with predictors explaining 31% of variation in SI. Adolescents who experienced more ACE and report more neuroticism have a higher chance of prolonged SI, while youth who perceive better family financial status and have better relationships with parents have a greater chance to stop with it. For NSSI only neuroticism was a significant predictor. Considering significant variables which could predict prolonged NSSI and/or SI, data presented in this paper have both scientific and practical contribution in understanding, treating and preventing adolescents' mental health problems.

An Exploratory Analysis of Fifteen Years Suicide Trends Using Population-Level Data From Croatian Committed Suicides Registry

Objectives

The provide a descriptive analysis of the available population-level aggregated data on committed suicides in the Republic of Croatia, in the 2004-2018 period, showing emerging trends in suicide incidence focusing on sex/age/geographical distribution of suicides and the primary and secondary causes of suicide mortality, as well as making comparisons with similar neighboring neighboring countries.

Methods

The aggregated suicide data were obtained from the Croatian Committed Suicides Registry, a national registry maintained by the public health authority. The raw data extract was organized into tables according to several variables (age, sex, place of birth, place of residence, and cause of death). Simple descriptive statistics were performed on the structured data.

Results

Despite being among the highest in the world and EU, the number of committed suicides in Croatia is in decline since 2004. A higher number of suicides by males was observed when compared to females. Most of the suicides occur during spring and summer. The wealthier, northern continental region of the country had the highest average rate of committed suicides per 1,00,000 population, contrary to some of the findings in the published literature associating economic instability with suicide. The most common way to commit suicide for both sexes in all age groups is self-harm by hanging, strangulation and suffocation. Suicide by firearm and explosive devices discharge remains higher than the global average.

Conclusions

Despite its steadily declining incidence rates in the past 20 years, suicides remain a major public health challenge in Croatia. Results may bolster the Ugro-Finnish suicide hypothesis, linking higher suicide rates to regions with populations of Hungarian descent.

Temperament, parenting, mental disorders, life stressors and help-seeking behavior of Asian adolescent suicide attempters: A case control study

PURPOSE

The need to elucidate risk factors for adolescent suicide is urgent, as suicide consistently ranks among the top causes of death globally. Understanding suicide risk factors could inform more effective interventions. Previous studies have identified certain risk factors associated with suicide, but there is a paucity of research among adolescent and multi-ethnic Asian populations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This case-control study sampled 13-to-19-year-old Asian adolescents who had attempted suicide (N = 60) and controls (N = 58) matched by age, ethnicity and gender at group-level (73.7% female). Life stressors, temperament, parenting style, mental health conditions and help-seeking behavior were examined.

RESULTS

All domains of life stress apart from emerging adult responsibility were higher among cases than controls, especially home life, peer pressure and romantic relationships. Suicide attempters tended to avoid new situations, be less adaptable to changes, have a negative outlook and irregular sleep-wake cycle. Additionally, they perceived their parents to be significantly more aggressive, neglecting, rejecting and cold, while parents' perceptions of their own parenting were only significantly different in the domain of parental neglect. Cases were more likely to exhibit disorders of disruptive behavior, eating, mood, anxiety, symptoms of schizophrenia and experience of disturbing events. Significant differences were also found for 10 out of 12 Axis II disorders, particularly borderline, depressive, and avoidant personality disorder traits. No significant case-control differences were found regarding overall rates of help-seeking.

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study may help in suicide prevention efforts through more tailored interventions.

Prediction of the Satisfaction With the Student Life, Based on Teaching Competence and Satisfaction With the School

The aim of this article was to assess how students evaluate the professional personality competence of physical education teachers in high school and its relation to student satisfaction and student satisfaction with life itself. In line with these aims, this study was completed as a cross-sectional study, which was carried out in a group of 890 physical education students. Of the study group, 50.3% were female and 49.7% were male. The average age was 15.49 years for females (SD 1.79) and 15.00 years for males (SD 2.00). We used a questionnaire featuring the Physical Education Teacher Competence, Intrinsic Satisfaction Classroom Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results are presented as descriptive statistics, correlations, and a structural equation modeling analysis showing students' perceived competence, predicted self-determined satisfaction, which in turn corresponds to life satisfaction.

HPA axis regulation and stress response is subject to intergenerational modification by paternal trauma and stress

There is increasing evidence that one's risk for psychiatric disturbances and metabolic syndromes is influenced by their parents' own health history, lifestyle and living environment. For example, paternal high fat diet is strongly linked to neuroendocrine dysregulation in offspring and increased risk for diabetes. The potential intergenerational impact of paternal stress has only just begun to emerge, with the initial evidence suggestive of greater risk for anxiety-related disorders. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis is a key neuroendocrine signalling system involved in physiological homeostasis and stress response. In individuals, dysregulation of this system is closely associated with behavioral deficits and mood disorders. Various preclinical models of paternal stress have demonstrated robust behavioral shifts but little is known about the intergenerational modification of HPA axis function. This review will present evidence drawn from a range of laboratory mouse and rat models that the intergenerational influence of paternal stress on offspring behavioral phenotypes involve some level of HPA axis dysregulation. It makes the case that further investigations to comprehensively profile HPA axis function in offspring generations is warranted.

The Assessment Effect of Spiritual Care on Hopelessness and Depression in Suicide Attempts

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of spiritual care on hopelessness and depression among suicide attempts. This semi-experimental study that 60 suicide attempts and these samples were divided in to two cases and control groups. For case group, service package of spiritual care was designed and conducted during their visits to psychiatrists' offices. Findings showed that there was a significant difference after performing spiritual care in depression in both groups (X² = 22, P = 0.002) and their hopelessness (X² = 20, P = 0.001). The use of spiritual intervention is suggested in order to implement holistic nursing care during treatment should be considered as a matter of principle.

A 6-year Longitudinal Study of Self-harm and Suicidal Behaviors among Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To examine the trajectories of self-harm and suicidal behaviors among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong and to investigate the related predictors, including gender, family nonintactness, economic disadvantage, positive youth development, and family functioning.

DESIGN

We used quantitative data from a large sample of adolescent participants. Participants initially joined this study when they were in grade 7 (wave 1), and they were followed from grade 8 (wave 2) to grade 12 (wave 6).

SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS

The participants consisted of 2023 grade 12 students from 28 secondary schools in Hong Kong. A multistage cluster random sampling method was adopted.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Self-harm and suicidal behaviors.

RESULTS

The trajectories of self-harm and suicidal behaviors in general declined from grade 7 to grade 12. Regarding the effect of gender, whereas adolescent girls showed a higher prevalence for self-harm and suicidal behaviors at baseline and other waves, adolescent boys showed a pronounced decline in self-harm rates. Adolescents from nonintact families were more likely to self-harm or engage in suicidal behaviors at wave 6. Economic disadvantage at wave 4 predicted higher suicidal behavior among adolescents but not self-harm at wave 6. Regarding positive youth development, several protective factors that include cognitive-behavioral competencies, prosocial attributes, general positive youth development qualities, and positive identity could help reduce self-harm and suicidal behaviors at different time points. Regarding the role of family functioning, more family conflicts predicted higher suicidality in adolescence (self-harm and suicidal behaviors), and family communication affected self-harming behaviors at wave 6.

CONCLUSION

The trajectories of self-harm and suicidal behaviors decline from early to late adolescence among Chinese adolescents. Positive youth development and constructive family functioning are critical to help reduce suicidal behaviors. Regarding increased risk, more attention should be paid to adolescent girls and adolescents from nonintact and economic disadvantaged families.