Dadras Omid, Wang Chia-Wen
Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Section Global Health and Rehabilitation, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2023 Jul 12;17(1):89. doi: 10.1186/s13034-023-00642-7.
Adolescent suicide is regarded as a serious phenomenon that affects the well-being of the youth. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of suicidal behaviours and their association with physical/psychological harm and substance use in a nationally representative sample of adolescents in Grades 7-12 in Lebanon.
Data from the latest Global School-Based Student Health Survey conducted in 2017 were used in this study. The prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among those who had considered committing suicide, at least once, were explored.
An estimated 13.45% of Lebanese adolescents, particularly females in Grades 7-12 had considered suicide at least once in the past 12 months. More importantly, almost half of them had attempted it at least once in the past 12 months. Those who frequently felt lonely or worried (previous year), were involved in physical fights or assaults (previous year), had been verbally or physically bullied (previous month), had missed more school days, experienced food insecurity, and had a history of substance abuse (marijuana, amphetamine, alcohol, and tobacco products) were more likely to exhibit suicidal behaviours. Parental support and older age at drug initiation appeared to be protective factors.
The findings characterise the correlates of suicidal behaviours among school-going Lebanese adolescents and determine the attributes of the risk group susceptible to engaging in suicide attempts. Future interventions and policies should consider these attributes when monitoring target groups, particularly those with the alarming behaviours identified in this study. In addition, awareness campaigns that engage all stakeholders, particularly parents, should be prioritised by the authorities.
青少年自杀被视为一种影响青少年福祉的严重现象。本研究旨在调查黎巴嫩全国7至12年级青少年代表性样本中自杀行为的流行情况及其与身体/心理伤害和物质使用的关联。
本研究使用了2017年进行的最新全球学校学生健康调查的数据。对至少有过一次自杀念头的人群中自杀意念和自杀未遂的流行情况及相关因素进行了探索。
据估计，13.45%的黎巴嫩青少年，尤其是7至12年级的女生，在过去12个月中至少有过一次自杀念头。更重要的是，其中近一半人在过去12个月中至少尝试过一次自杀。那些经常感到孤独或焦虑（前一年）、参与过肢体冲突或攻击行为（前一年）、曾遭受过言语或身体欺凌（前一个月）、缺课天数更多、经历过粮食不安全以及有药物滥用史（大麻、安非他明、酒精和烟草制品）的人更有可能表现出自杀行为。父母的支持和开始使用毒品时年龄较大似乎是保护因素。
研究结果描述了黎巴嫩在校青少年自杀行为的相关因素，并确定了易发生自杀未遂的风险群体的特征。未来的干预措施和政策在监测目标群体时应考虑这些特征，特别是本研究中确定的那些有令人担忧行为的群体。此外，当局应优先开展让所有利益相关者，特别是家长参与的提高认识运动。
