Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Department of Psychology, Pace University, New York, NY, USA.
Int J Psychol. 2020 Aug;55(4):618-628. doi: 10.1002/ijop.12625. Epub 2019 Oct 17.
Guyana, a low-to-middle-income country (LMIC) in South America, leads the world in youth suicide. As an understanding of risk and protective factors is critical to the development of culturally informed suicide prevention efforts, research exploring these factors among youth in Guyana is needed. The current study expands on current research on adolescent suicide in Guyana and LMICs broadly by using qualitative focus groups and interviews to explore adult stakeholders' and youth's perspectives. Participants included 17 adult stakeholders and 40 adolescents in Guyana. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach. Themes related to participants' perceptions of risk factors for suicide included demographic characteristics, pressure and expectations, adults' responses to youth, limited coping with stressful life events and exposure to suicide. Themes related to protective factors for suicide included positive social support and involvement in community activities. Findings have implications for the development and tailoring of suicide prevention efforts for Guyanese youth.
圭亚那是南美洲的一个中低收入国家（LMIC），在全球青少年自杀率方面处于领先地位。由于了解风险和保护因素对于制定文化上知情的预防自杀工作至关重要，因此需要在圭亚那的青年中开展探索这些因素的研究。本研究通过使用定性焦点小组和访谈，扩大了当前在圭亚那和广泛的中低收入国家青少年自杀方面的研究，探讨了成年利益相关者和青年的观点。参与者包括圭亚那的 17 名成年利益相关者和 40 名青少年。使用扎根理论方法对数据进行分析。与参与者对自杀风险因素的看法有关的主题包括人口特征、压力和期望、成年人对青年的反应、应对压力性生活事件的能力有限以及接触自杀。与自杀保护因素有关的主题包括积极的社会支持和参与社区活动。研究结果对为圭亚那青年制定和调整预防自杀工作具有启示意义。
