Circumstances and underlying causes of suicidal attempts in teen patients of mental health facilities – a psychological perspective

Objective: The paper brings together and summarizes the results of a study carried out in 2011–2015, aimed at analysing circumstances and reasons underlying adolescent suicidal attempts. Material and methods: The studied group comprised 115 patients hospitalised due to having attempted suicide, ag...

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Main Authors: Marlena Stradomska, Jolanta Wolińska, Milena Marczak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Communications Sp. z o.o. 2016-09-01
Series:Psychiatria i Psychologia Kliniczna
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.psychiatria.com.pl/index.php/wydawnictwa/2016-vol-16-no-3/circumstances-and-underlying-causes-of-suicidal-attempts-in-teen-patients-of-mental-health-facilities-a-psychological-perspective?aid=596
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author Marlena Stradomska
Jolanta Wolińska
Milena Marczak
author_facet Marlena Stradomska
Jolanta Wolińska
Milena Marczak
author_sort Marlena Stradomska
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The paper brings together and summarizes the results of a study carried out in 2011–2015, aimed at analysing circumstances and reasons underlying adolescent suicidal attempts. Material and methods: The studied group comprised 115 patients hospitalised due to having attempted suicide, aged 13–19 years old, based in 3 voivodeships, namely the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Lubelskie Voivodeship, and Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The results of the study have been subject to quantitative and qualitative analysis. Results: Our analysis has demonstrated that in the opinion of 95% of the patients another suicide previously committed in their environment inspired their own suicidal attempt. A significant proportion of the participants of the study (88%) claims suicidal behaviours in a person’s environment to be conducive to similar behaviours not only in adolescents, but across all age groups alike. A majority of participants have admitted possessing a lack of sufficient knowledge concerning mental health and wellbeing. Nor do they receive effective help, feeling emotional distress, yet failing to meet with any response on the part of their relatives and friends, who seem not to take teenagers’ psychological condition seriously. Suicidal and depressive disposition is commonly regarded as a sign of mere moodiness, fanciness, being spoilt, or being prone to playing practical jokes. According to the majority of the participants (71%), their relatives had directly influenced their decision to attempt suicide. As much as 88% of the responses provided in the study indicated causes stemming from inadequate communication. Teenagers’ attempts to talk about death-related issues (suicidal issues) failed, not being met with understanding on the part of their parents and other caregivers. Conclusions: There is a need for education, prophylaxis, and raising social awareness concerning the problem of suicides. Education on a broad scale is necessary to enable unobstructed access to important information, inter alia through cultural and social events, preventive campaigns, workshops, voluntary help, media etc.
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spelling doaj.art-ea6524b9c9994967aed77590c0eac8ce2022-12-21T16:58:38ZengMedical Communications Sp. z o.o.Psychiatria i Psychologia Kliniczna1644-63132451-06452016-09-0116313614910.15557/PiPK.2016.0019Circumstances and underlying causes of suicidal attempts in teen patients of mental health facilities – a psychological perspectiveMarlena Stradomska0Jolanta Wolińska1Milena Marczak2Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, PolandSocial Psychology Division, Institute of Psychology, Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, PolandMaria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, PolandObjective: The paper brings together and summarizes the results of a study carried out in 2011–2015, aimed at analysing circumstances and reasons underlying adolescent suicidal attempts. Material and methods: The studied group comprised 115 patients hospitalised due to having attempted suicide, aged 13–19 years old, based in 3 voivodeships, namely the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Lubelskie Voivodeship, and Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The results of the study have been subject to quantitative and qualitative analysis. Results: Our analysis has demonstrated that in the opinion of 95% of the patients another suicide previously committed in their environment inspired their own suicidal attempt. A significant proportion of the participants of the study (88%) claims suicidal behaviours in a person’s environment to be conducive to similar behaviours not only in adolescents, but across all age groups alike. A majority of participants have admitted possessing a lack of sufficient knowledge concerning mental health and wellbeing. Nor do they receive effective help, feeling emotional distress, yet failing to meet with any response on the part of their relatives and friends, who seem not to take teenagers’ psychological condition seriously. Suicidal and depressive disposition is commonly regarded as a sign of mere moodiness, fanciness, being spoilt, or being prone to playing practical jokes. According to the majority of the participants (71%), their relatives had directly influenced their decision to attempt suicide. As much as 88% of the responses provided in the study indicated causes stemming from inadequate communication. Teenagers’ attempts to talk about death-related issues (suicidal issues) failed, not being met with understanding on the part of their parents and other caregivers. Conclusions: There is a need for education, prophylaxis, and raising social awareness concerning the problem of suicides. Education on a broad scale is necessary to enable unobstructed access to important information, inter alia through cultural and social events, preventive campaigns, workshops, voluntary help, media etc.http://www.psychiatria.com.pl/index.php/wydawnictwa/2016-vol-16-no-3/circumstances-and-underlying-causes-of-suicidal-attempts-in-teen-patients-of-mental-health-facilities-a-psychological-perspective?aid=596adolescentsfamilysuicidal attemptspreventionsuicideprevention
spellingShingle Marlena Stradomska
Jolanta Wolińska
Milena Marczak
Circumstances and underlying causes of suicidal attempts in teen patients of mental health facilities – a psychological perspective
Psychiatria i Psychologia Kliniczna
adolescents
family
suicidal attempts
prevention
suicide
prevention
title Circumstances and underlying causes of suicidal attempts in teen patients of mental health facilities – a psychological perspective
title_full Circumstances and underlying causes of suicidal attempts in teen patients of mental health facilities – a psychological perspective
title_fullStr Circumstances and underlying causes of suicidal attempts in teen patients of mental health facilities – a psychological perspective
title_full_unstemmed Circumstances and underlying causes of suicidal attempts in teen patients of mental health facilities – a psychological perspective
title_short Circumstances and underlying causes of suicidal attempts in teen patients of mental health facilities – a psychological perspective
title_sort circumstances and underlying causes of suicidal attempts in teen patients of mental health facilities a psychological perspective
topic adolescents
family
suicidal attempts
prevention
suicide
prevention
url http://www.psychiatria.com.pl/index.php/wydawnictwa/2016-vol-16-no-3/circumstances-and-underlying-causes-of-suicidal-attempts-in-teen-patients-of-mental-health-facilities-a-psychological-perspective?aid=596
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AT jolantawolinska circumstancesandunderlyingcausesofsuicidalattemptsinteenpatientsofmentalhealthfacilitiesapsychologicalperspective
AT milenamarczak circumstancesandunderlyingcausesofsuicidalattemptsinteenpatientsofmentalhealthfacilitiesapsychologicalperspective