Voicing Jordanian Adolescents' Suicide

Validating a digital depression prevention program for adolescents in Jordan: cultural adaptation and user testing in a randomized controlled trial

Purpose

Digital health interventions (DHIs) offer scalable solutions for improving mental health care access in underserved settings. This study is part of a multi-phased project aimed at adapting a depression prevention DHI for Jordanian adolescents. It evaluated the feasibility, cultural acceptability, and effectiveness of the translated and culturally adapted DHI, named Al-Khaizuran, with comparisons to school-based group CBT.

Methods

A two-arm, single-blind randomized controlled trial with a mixed-methods design was conducted among 109 Jordanian adolescents aged 15-17 years experiencing mild to moderate depression. Participants were randomly assigned to either Al-Khaizuran DHI (n=55) or school-based group CBT (n=54). The adaptation of Al-Khaizuran DHI components was guided by the Ecological Validity Framework, while the procedural adaptation followed Barrera and Castro's Heuristic Framework, incorporating iterative refinement based on user feedback and contextual considerations.

Results

Al-Khaizuran DHI was found to be a culturally relevant and acceptable intervention for Jordanian adolescent. Over half of the participants reported that the intervention was effective, empowering, and easy to use, with 51% expressing satisfaction and willingness to recommend it. However, challenges such as limited access to personal devices, privacy concerns, and participants' reliance on shared family resources emerged as significant barriers to consistent engagement. Participants showed a preference for individualized, blended interventions, with a significant reduction in support for group CBT. No significant difference was found in depression scores between the two groups. However, the Al-Khaizuran DHI group demonstrated higher post-intervention resilience scores (p=0.026). Beliefs about the effectiveness of the intervention significantly predicted behavioral intention (p=0.022), while perceived difficulty was a barrier to adherence (p=0.015).

Conclusions

Al-Khaizuran DHI exemplifies the potential of culturally adapted digital interventions in bridging mental health care gaps in resource-limited settings. However, its effectiveness is contingent upon addressing barriers to access, enhancing program interactivity, and integrating hybrid support systems that combine digital tools with in-person guidance. Future implementations should consider strategies to actively engage parents to foster a supportive environment that promotes the well-being of adolescents.

Clinical trial registration

https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14751844, identifier ISRCTN14751844.

Suicidal ideation amongst medical students in Shiraz, South of Iran: a cross-sectional study

Suicide is a preventable act, but irreversible once committed; Hundreds of thousands of people commit suicide annually around the globe. One of the groups at high risk of suicide is medical students. Suicidal ideation (SI) is a forerunner to suicidal attempts which could be assessed. Since there are not enough data about this issue among Iranian medical students, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of SI and risk factors among Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) undergraduate medical students. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to February 2023 in the medical school of SUMS. Students willing to participate were recruited by stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire along with Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression model were carried out using BlueSky software. The study identified that 76 out of 308 attendees (24.7%, 95% CI: 19.9%-29.5%) reported experiencing suicidal ideation. Very severe depression [AOR= 26.705, 95% CI: (8.825 - 91.046)], Severe depression [AOR= 17.142, 95% CI: (5.567 - 58.121)], positive family history of psychiatric disorders [AOR= 4.181, 95% CI: (1.773 - 10.014)], comorbid mental illness [AOR= 2.502, 95% CI: (1.123 - 5.553)], were found to be statistically related to having SI. This study showed that one out of every four undergraduate medical students at SUMS has SI, which warns everyone to plan and act to prevent the loss of more lives. Depression, family history of psychiatric disorders, and comorbid mental diseases were found to be strongly associated with SI.

What methods are used in research of firsthand experiences with online self-harming and suicidal behavior? A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Online self-harming and suicidal behavior is a novel and rapidly increasing phenomenon warranting comprehensive mapping of used research methods.

AIM

To identify and map how knowledge on online self-harming and suicidal behavior is gathered, including how data are collected e.g. questionnaires and interviews.

METHODS

The review follows the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Scoping Reviews in tandem with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. A keyword search of three electronic databases was conducted on two occasions, yielding 5422 records. Following duplicate removal, the records were screened based on the following inclusion criterions; (1) in English or Nordic language and published between 2011-2022, (2) presenting results for self-harming and/or suicidal behavior on social media and (3) using tools for either interview or questionnaire aiming at assessment of the experience of online self-harming and suicidal behavior from the perspective of the person who engages in the behavior. A total of 64 articles were included.

RESULTS

45 used questionnaires, 17 used interviews, and two studies mixed the two approaches. 17% of the studies had made some effort to ensure validity within the questionnaires and 15.8% gave full access to the interview guide.

CONCLUSION

Research into online self-harming and suicidal behavior is characterized by a lack of validated measurements and methodological transparency. The results emphasize a need for further development, testing, and validation of questionnaires and greater openness and reflexivity in qualitative methodology to enable cross-study comparison and advance knowledge of this complex phenomenon.

Psychosocial determinants of adolescent suicide: A national survey

BACKGROUND

Suicide is a global health problem with considerable variability across countries in its prevalence and correlates. The aims of this study were to: (a) explore the prevalence and psychosocial determinants of adolescent suicidal ideation, and (b) explore the perceived stigma of suicide among adolescents.

METHOD

A nationally representative electronic survey was utilized to collect data from school adolescents. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for studies reporting prevalence data was used to design the survey. The study collected data on adolescents' suicidal ideation, depression, self-esteem, stigma of suicide, family functioning, educational stress, and anxiety levels. A representative sample of 647 Jordanian school adolescents was included.

RESULTS

The prevalence of suicidal ideation among school adolescents was 11%. Suicidal ideation was significantly higher among respondents who were boys and enrolled in public schools, had a mental health problem, a family history of suicidal attempt, a lower self-esteem, and higher depressive symptoms. The majority of school adolescents agreed with the descriptions of people who take their own lives as being "lost" (70%), "coward" (53%), "stupid" (51%), and "lonely" (49%).

CONCLUSION

There is no typical suicide victim, and there are no specific characteristics that can point out those who are suicidal. Suicide remains a complex phenomenon that is embedded in its sociocultural context. Collaborative efforts from Jordanian policy makers, healthcare providers, researchers, and educators are needed to develop culturally appropriate screening and prevention approaches to address suicide among adolescents. Nurses have a significant role in helping adolescents experiencing suicidal ideation and their families restore, maintain, and/or promote their mental health and wellbeing.