Chen Sikky Shiqi, Lam Tai Pong, Lam Kwok Fai, Lo Tak Lam, Chao David Vai Kiong, Mak Ki Yan, Lam Edmund Wing Wo, Tang Wai Sin, Chan Hoi Yan, Yip Paul Siu Fai
Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2025 Feb;30(1):21-33. doi: 10.1111/camh.12757. Epub 2024 Dec 18.
Adaptive responses to peer suicidality and the involvement of professional help are crucial for adolescent suicide prevention and may be influenced by suicidal attitudes. This study aimed to explore Hong Kong adolescents' responses to and help-seeking intentions for suicidal peers and to examine the influence of suicidal attitudes.
This study used an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach targeting Hong Kong adolescents aged 15-19 between September 2018 and October 2019. Adolescents' reactions to peer suicidality, suicidal attitudes, and willingness to help were examined through six focus groups and 12 individual interviews (N = 40). A cross-sectional survey (N = 1676) was subsequently conducted to investigate the prevalence of different responses to peer suicidality, help-seeking intentions, differences by background characteristics, and the impacts of suicidal attitudes.
Qualitative findings revealed three major themes: attitudes toward suicide, reactions to peer distress and suicidality, and willingness to help suicidal individuals. Most survey respondents reported actively responding and seeking informal help, but not professional support. Differences were observed based on sex, academic performance, and self-suicidality. Notably, a stigmatizing attitude was positively associated with both response types and informal help-seeking intentions. The belief that suicide is unpreventable was positively associated with passive responses but negatively associated with active responses and informal help-seeking intentions.
Our findings highlight variability in adolescents' responses to peer suicidality and help-seeking intentions, underscoring the need for attitude-tailored courses and more systematic, action-based gatekeeper training. Recommendations are provided to enhance the effectiveness of mental health first aid programs through public education, school interventions, and media campaigns.
对同伴自杀行为的适应性反应以及专业帮助的介入对青少年自杀预防至关重要，且可能受到自杀态度的影响。本研究旨在探讨香港青少年对有自杀行为同伴的反应及寻求帮助的意图，并检验自杀态度的影响。
本研究采用探索性序列混合方法，研究对象为2018年9月至2019年10月期间年龄在15 - 19岁的香港青少年。通过六个焦点小组和12次个人访谈（N = 40），研究青少年对同伴自杀行为的反应、自杀态度及帮助意愿。随后进行了一项横断面调查（N = 1676），以调查对同伴自杀行为的不同反应的发生率、寻求帮助的意图、背景特征差异以及自杀态度的影响。
定性研究结果揭示了三个主要主题：对自杀的态度、对同伴痛苦和自杀行为的反应以及帮助有自杀行为个体的意愿。大多数调查受访者表示会积极做出反应并寻求非正式帮助，但不会寻求专业支持。根据性别、学业成绩和自我自杀倾向观察到了差异。值得注意的是，污名化态度与两种反应类型及非正式寻求帮助的意图均呈正相关。认为自杀不可预防的信念与被动反应呈正相关，但与积极反应及非正式寻求帮助的意图呈负相关。
我们的研究结果凸显了青少年对同伴自杀行为的反应及寻求帮助意图的差异，强调了开展针对态度的课程以及更系统、基于行动的守门人培训的必要性。通过公共教育、学校干预和媒体宣传活动，提出了增强心理健康急救项目有效性的建议。
