Prevention Of Suicidal Behavior Research Articles

Psychological Prevention of Suicidal Behavior in Adolescents

The article is devoted to the analysis of psychological factors in the formation of suicidal behavior in adolescents. The following personal characteristics of adolescents are considered that predispose them to suicidal behavior, such as emotionally labile, cycloid and hysterical types of character accentuation. Character traits of adolescents with borderline personality disorders, such as instability of emotions, impulsivity, and a tendency toward self-aggression, can provoke suicidal intentions and attempts. Social isolation, rejection by peers, and conflicts in the family can lead to psychological trauma and suicidal reactions in adolescence. Suicidal behavior in adolescence can be a reaction to traumatic situations associated with violence, abuse, and sexual harassment. Various methods of psychological prevention of suicidal behavior are considered. An effective method for preventing suicidal behavior in adolescents is the formation of resilience and resource states of the individual, and early diagnosis of risk groups plays an important role in the prevention of suicidal behavior. The emphasis is on the need to increase the psychological competence of parents, teachers and specialists in recognizing and preventing suicidal behavior, as well as on interdepartmental interaction and coordination of services at all levels of the prevention system.

The PositivaMente Program: Universal Prevention of Suicidal Behaviour in Educational Settings

AbstractSuicidal behaviour is a major socio-health problem worldwide. However, there are few empirically validated programs for universal prevention of suicidal behaviour in school settings. The aim of the present study was to design and validate the PositivaMente program for the prevention of suicidal behaviour in school-age adolescents aged 14–15 from the North of Spain. A quasi-experimental design was used with pre- and post-treatment evaluation with experimental and control groups and a six-month follow-up. The final sample consisted of 264 participants (M = 14.30 years, SD = 0.56; 54.5% girls), with 161 participants in the experimental group and 103 in the control group. Measuring instruments were administered to assess suicidal behaviour, emotional and behavioural difficulties, depressive symptomatology, prosocial behaviour, subjective well-being, and self-esteem. The PositivaMente program was designed and implemented in educational settings. A statistically significant improvement in subjective well-being was found, as well as a statistically significant reduction in emotional problems and problems with peers among female participants in the experimental group versus those in the control group at the 6-month follow-up. However, male participants did not seem to benefit from the program. The overall evaluation from the sample and satisfaction with PositivaMente were positive. Empirically supported actions for the prevention of suicidal behaviour need to be designed in order to make informed decisions. Future studies should implement the PositivaMente program with other populations and contexts, develop a brief version, and collect information on cost-effectiveness.

Stavropol Regional Psychiatric Hospital: memory of the past – a ladder to the future

In 2023, 80 years have passed since the liberation of Stavropol from the Nazi invaders. The staff and patients of the psychiatric hospital were subjected to the horrors of the fascist regime. 660 patients and 30 employees of the Stavropol Psychiatric Hospital died in the gas chambers. The hospital honors the memory and does its best to preserve the story of people selflessly fulfilling their duty in difficult times for her and the whole country.The purpose of the study. In honor of the anniversary memorable date, the authors of the article want to tell about the history of the Stavropol Regional Psychiatric Hospital in chronological order from the day of its foundation to the present day.Materials and methods: a systematic analysis of scientific literature, archival data of the hospital was carried out, the A.J. Dorsht foundation, stored in the Museum of History of Stavropol State Medical University, was used.Results and discussion. The authors tell about the life of the hospital in different historical periods of our country. Special attention is paid to the period of the Great Patriotic War. It tells about the horrors that the hospital experienced during the German occupation, about the victims among patients and employees whose lives were claimed by the Great Patriotic War. The period of leadership of the outstanding chief physician, man and teacher, Adolf Yakovlevich Dorsht, is described with great respect and recognition. The article summarizes the history of the development of modern psychiatric services in the Stavropol Territory, the prevention of suicidal behavior among adolescents, the provision of psychiatric care to the population during a pandemic and a special military operation.Conclusion. Having survived many trials in its lifetime, at present the Stavropol Regional Psychiatric Hospital has been awarded numerous awards for asceticism in the field of mental health and is the largest in the North Caucasus.

Development of social competence of specialists of helping professions to carry out comprehensive prevention of suicidal behavior of adolescents

Introduction. The relevance of the research problem is due to the increase in maladaptive forms of adolescents' response to various kinds of crisis situations. The importance of preventing teenage suicides has increased dramatically in the context of the socio-cultural crisis of recent decades. Despite the fact that various sciences are developing and putting into practice more and more new methods and technologies for suicide prevention, alarming trends do not disappear. A real problem of training specialists of helping professions to organize complex, specifically filled activities for diagnostic, preventive, advisory, correctional and developmental work with adolescents is being formed. The purpose of this article is to consider the possibilities of supporting the activities of specialists in helping professions to work with adolescents in the prevention of suicidal behavior. Materials and methods. The study involved 133 students and 20 teachers of general education organizations (schools of the Krasnodar Territory, Russian Federation). To carry out diagnostics on the research topic, we used theoretical and empirical methods (in particular, analysis of psychological and pedagogical literature on the research problem, testing, conversation, the method of expert assessments, the method of content analysis), as well as methods of mathematical statistics. In the course of the study, we examined the manifestations of individual characteristics of self-esteem in children, the perception of loneliness, value orientations, and features of the emotional-volitional sphere. Also, within the framework of the study, we determined the content characteristics of the construction of a comprehensive work of specialists of accompanying professions with adolescents of the "risk group". The results of the study. As a result of the diagnosis of students in grades 8-9 (133 people), a "risk group" of 14 people was identified. To confirm the criteria for inclusion of adolescents in the group of suicidal risk – anxiety, frustration, a set of diagnostic techniques was used. It was determined that 43 subjects had an average or low level of anxiety, 90 respondents (67.66%) showed an increased level of anxiety. 57.14% of respondents revealed low self-esteem, while adolescents with adequate self-esteem accounted for only 34.58%. Teenagers who were assigned to the "risk group" demonstrated a fairly high level of loneliness: 7 of 14. The results of the study allowed us to identify areas in the prevention of suicidal activity of adolescent schoolchildren, for which it is necessary to prepare specialists of accompanying professions working in an educational organization. Conclusion. Based on the data of the conducted research, it is possible to note the multifactorial etiology of suicidal manifestations, which implies the need for a comprehensive psychological and pedagogical impact on all components of this phenomenon. The age peculiarity of a teenager determines the features of his suicidal behavior, which determine the specificity and uniqueness of prevention. Preventive work on suicide prevention should be built as an integral system that includes all levels of prevention, as well as a set of measures aimed at preventing repeated attempts. At the same time, the preventive activity of suicidal behavior should integrate several areas, such as: work with family, teachers, and adolescents themselves.

Critical appraisal of the Colombian clinical practice guide for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of suicidal ideation and/or behaviour (adoption)

IntroductionSuicide is a complex, global public health problem. The Colombian clinical practice guideline provides relevant input for its prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The objective was to evaluate the methodological quality, credibility and applicability of the Colombian clinical practice guideline for suicidal behaviour. MethodsAn academic group of 12 evaluators was established to assess the guide and its recommendations in a standardised way, using the AGREE-II and AGREE-REX instruments. The evaluations were given in the range of 0.0–1.0 with 0.7 as a cut-off point for appropriate quality. ResultsThe global assessment of the AGREE-II was greater than 0.7 in the dimensions: "scope and objective" (0.86), "clarity of presentation" (0.89), "applicability" (0.73) and "editorial independence" (0.89). The lowest scores were for “participation of those involved” (0.67) and “rigour in preparation” (0.69). With the AGREE-REX, the results in all dimensions were below 0.70, which indicates lower quality and suitability for use. ConclusionsThe adoption process of the Colombian guideline for suicidal behaviour was a rigorous methodological process, while the practice recommendations were valued as of low applicability due to low support in local evidence. It is necessary to strengthen the generation and synthesis of evidence at the national level to give greater support and applicability to the practice recommendations.

Suicide risk assessment tools and prediction models: new evidence, methodological innovations, outdated criticisms

The number of prediction models for suicide-related outcomes has grown substantially in recent years. These models aim to assist in stratifying risk, improve clinical decision-making, and facilitate a personalised medicine...

The self-perceived needs of adolescents with suicidal behaviour: a scoping review.

Suicidal behaviour in adolescents is a major public health problem. Much research on this issue has focused on epidemiology and risk factors for suicidal behaviour, paying less attention to the self-perceived needs of adolescents. However, to increase engagement in suicide prevention, it is important to include the views of adolescents. A scoping review was performed to identify the available empirical study findings, of any study design, related to the self-perceived needs of adolescents with suicidal behaviour. The literature databases Medline, Embase, Psycinfo, CINAHL, ERIC, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched.Twenty-nine studies from 14 predominantly Anglo countries were included in the scoping review. The review showed that girls were overrepresented and that studies predominantly used qualitative approaches. The identified needs of adolescents with suicidal behaviour can broadly be grouped into needs related to the following areas: the importance of connecting with other people; adolescents' self-help strategies and personal growth after self-harm; mental healthcare; school or study programs; and needs related to society in relation to taboo on suicidal behaviour. Prevention of suicidal behaviour in adolescents will need to focus on development and strengthening of interventions fitting the needs of adolescents in these areas.

Do stigma and efficacy mediate the association between training and suicide prevention behavior among Army noncommissioned officers?

Rates of suicide in the Active Component of the military have significantly increased since 2010, with particularly high rates among Army service members. One element of the Army's approach to suicide prevention relies on noncommissioned officers (NCOs) as gatekeepers who have regular contact with soldiers. NCOs receive suicide prevention training, but there is limited evidence that such training leads to behavior change. We surveyed 2468 Army NCOs participating in leadership development courses to determine (a) if training on suicide prevention and soft skills (e.g., active listening) was associated with gatekeeper behavior and use of soft skills; and (b) whether that association was explained by two potential barriers, stigma and perceptions of efficacy. Both the number of suicide prevention training topics and soft skills trained were associated with increased gatekeeper behavior; these relationships were explained in part by lower stigma and higher efficacy for use of soft skills. The use of interactive training methods and receiving coaching after training were not associated with stigma or efficacy, though both methods were associated with more frequent use of soft skills. Results suggest that the content and format of training is important to preparing NCOs to fulfill a gatekeeper role.

Suicide in individuals with no psychiatric disorders: what makes you vulnerable?

Summary Globally, hundreds of thousands of people die by suicide every year. Suicides are usually associated with psychiatric illness. However, considerable evidence suggests that a significant number of individuals who die by suicide do not have diagnosable psychiatric disorders. The goal of this article is to attract attention to an overlooked issue of suicide in persons with no psychiatric disorders and to discuss some aspects of this issue. Research on identification and prevention of suicidal behavior in people with no psychiatric disorders is very limited. The available data indicate that suicides in individuals without psychiatric disorders are related to life stressors, lack of social support, and certain personality traits such as impulsivity. Suicide risk may be increased in military veterans with no psychiatric disorders. Many physical disorders, especially conditions associated with pain increase suicide risk in individuals with no diagnosable psychiatric disorders. Developmental, genetic and physical factors may play a role in the psychobiology of suicide in people with no psychiatric conditions. Promoting resilience may reduce suicide risk in the general population. Clinicians who work with medical or surgical patients need to have sufficient training in suicide prevention. Possibly, shifting some suicide prevention resources from individuals who are regarded as high-risk suicide patients to the general population may reduce suicide rates. Public education and better awareness about suicide may reduce suicide deaths among people with no psychiatric disorders.

Psychological Game as a Tool for the Development of Personal Resources in the Prevention of Suicidal Behavior of Students

Psychological Game as a Tool for the Development of Personal Resources in the Prevention of Suicidal Behavior of Students

The role of problem-solving skills in the prevention of suicidal behaviors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between problem-solving skills and suicidal behaviors and elucidate the potential role of problem-solving skills in influencing the occurrence of suicidal behaviors. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched until August 16, 2023. Studies addressing the associations between problem-solving skills and suicidal behaviors were included. The I2 statistics were used to examine between-study heterogeneity. The Begg and Egger tests were used to determine the possibility of publication bias. Using a random-effects model, the overall effect size was presented as an odds ratio (OR) or standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Of 8040 identified studies, 29 (including 974,542 participants) were eligible. Based on observational studies, problem-solving skills were found to be inversely related to suicidal ideation (OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.82); suicide attempts (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.89), and suicide death (OR = 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.03). The overall score of problem-solving skills was higher in those who did not attempt suicide than those who did (SMD = 0.84; 95% CI: 54, 1.13). Based on randomized clinical trials, problem-solving therapy was found to reduce the risk of suicide (OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.87). Furthermore, the overall risk of suicide was lower among those who received problem-solving therapy than those who did not (SMD = -0.02; 95% CI: -0.29, 0.25). This meta-analysis revealed an inverse association between problem-solving skills and suicidal behaviors. However, further research is needed to better understand the complex relationship between problem-solving skills and suicidal behaviors.

Examining Individual and Service Delivery Context Variables and Their Association with the Effectiveness of QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training.

Suicide prevention training programs have spread rapidly within child and public-serving organizations, due to the alarming increase in youth suicide rates. Yet, within these organizations, roles and responsibilities can shape attitudes and intentions related to suicide prevention, thereby influencing the uptake of prevention efforts. As such, various organizational and individual factors can predict uptake, adoption, and maintenance of prevention efforts (Fixsen et al., 2005). To date, few studies have examined the service delivery context in understanding training effectiveness, especially as it relates to QPR (Question Persuade and Refer), one of the most widely disseminated suicide prevention gatekeeper programs. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to evaluate whether individual and organizational characteristics influenced the effectiveness and sustainability of training outcomes, and whether such differences existed among diverse child and public-serving delivery sectors. Several training outcomes that align with the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) were examined, including confidence, attitudes, social norms, and suicide prevention behaviors. Measures were assessed prior to and 90 days after the QPR program among a sample of 858 professionals. Community support personnel uniquely showed improvements on social norms while juvenile justice and child welfare workers engaged in more suicide prevention behaviors post training. While trainees across sectors had improved suicide prevention attitudes, law enforcement personnel were the exception. Organizational climate predicted change in suicide prevention attitudes, confidence, and social norms. Trainees who were older, Latinx, and Black had the most improvement on several training outcome variables, but these findings also varied within service sectors.

A - 121 Psychosocial and Neurocognitive Correlates of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours Amongst Siblings of Persons with and without Neurodevelopmental Conditions.

Siblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) have greater incidence of psychiatric diagnoses and neurocognitive difficulties compared to siblings of persons without NDCs. Despite suicidality being labelled a global health crisis, and NDC siblings experiencing risk factors implicated in suicidality, no previous studies examined suicidality amongst adolescent and young adult siblings of persons with NDCs. Our study aimed to bridge this gap. The present study used Bayesian analyses and risk classification models to examine individual and environmental risk factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviour amongst siblings of persons with and without NDCs (n = 267; 132 NDC, 135 control group, mean age 20.61, range 14-27, 76.40% female, 76.78% White Caucasian), as measured using self-report survey data and remote self-administered cognitive tests. NDC siblings had higher rates of current nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI; 18.94% versus 14.07%, δ= -0.32), suicidal ideation (25.76% versus 8.89%, δ= -0.40) and history of suicide attempts (18.18% versus 4.44%, δ= -0.43) compared to controls. Classification models using boosting and random forest demonstrated adequate performance: positive predictive value 0.86-0.91, negative predictive value 0.81-0.90, false negative rates 0.11-0.24. Cognitive inflexibility, alexithymia, inattention, bullying, depression, NSSI, and eating or psychotic disorder history had the highest relative importance in predicting lifetime suicidality. Poorer executive functioning (measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task, Sustained Attention to Response Task, Stop Signal Task, and N-Back 2-back task) was strongly correlated with suicidality. Screening for proximal and modifiable risk factors is critical to inform suicidal behaviour intervention and prevention programs for at-risk siblings.

Why Suicide? Suicide Propinquity and Adolescent Risk for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors.

Suicide represents an international public health concern, and for adolescents aged 14 to 18 in the United States, is the third leading cause of death (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at: www.cdc.gov/yrbs . Accessed on August 30, 2023.). In response to this alarming rate, as well as the relative lack of meaningful progress in the prediction and prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) over the past decades (see Franklin et al., 2017), recent reviews of the suicide literature have advocated for the adoption of novel frameworks and theoretical reexamination of the processes that confer risk for suicide. Currently, the majority of suicide theories emphasize distal factors associated with suicide risk, but these factors also generalize to other types of psychopathology and do not answer the fundamental question of "why suicide?" vs. other maladaptive outcomes. In an effort to address this gap and build off existing theoretical and empirical science from various disciplines, the current theoretical paper will explore the concept of suicide propinquity, the degree of closeness and identification with STB, as a potential moderator of the link between psychological distress and suicide. Specifically, this paper: (1) provides context within the existing theories of suicide, highlighting gaps that might otherwise be explained by propinquity; (2) discusses historical and scientific evidence of suicide phenomena that support the existence of propinquity; (3) explores potential processes of how propinquity may confer risk for STB in adolescence; and (4) suggests future directions for research to examine adolescent suicide from a propinquity perspective.

Prevention of Suicidal Behavior in Bipolar Disorder.

Excess mortality is a critical hallmark of bipolar disorder (BD) due to co-occurring general medical disorders and especially from suicide. It is timely to review of the status of suicide in BD and to consider the possibility of limiting suicidal risk. We carried out a semi-systematic review of recent research reports pertaining to suicide in BD. Suicide risk in BD is greater than with most other psychiatric disorders. Suicide rates (per 100,000/year) are approximately 11 and 4 in the adult and juvenile general populations, but over 200 in adults, and 100 among juveniles diagnosed with BD. Suicide attempt rates with BD are at least 20 times higher than in the adult general population, and over 50 times higher among juveniles. Notable suicidal risk factors in BD include: previous suicidal acts, depression, mixed-agitated-dysphoric moods, rapid mood-shifts, impulsivity, and co-occurring substance abuse. Suicide-preventing therapeutics for BD remain severely underdeveloped. Evidence favoring lithium treatment is stronger than for other measures, although encouraging findings are emerging for other treatments. Suicide is a leading clinical challenge for those caring for BD patients. Improved understanding of risk and protective factors combined with knowledge and close follow-up of BD patients should limit suicidal risk. Ethically appropriate and scientifically sound studies of plausible medicinal, physical, and psychosocial treatments aimed at suicide prevention specifically for BD patients are urgently needed.Reprinted from Bipolar Disord 2021; 23:14-23, with permission from John Wiley and Sons. Copyright © 2021.

Relations of Childhood Trauma and Emotional Dysregulation with Suicide Ideation and Suicidal Behaviour Severity in a Clinical Sample of Depressive Female Adolescents.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the aspects of emotional dysregulation (ED) and childhood trauma (CT) which are associated with suicide ideation (SI) and suicidal behaviour (SB) severity in depressive female adolescents who previously attempted suicide. Method : In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated SI and SB severity. The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) was administered to 80 depressive female patients who had suicide attempts within the last month. Current suicide ideation (C-SI) and total score (C-TS), lifetime- suicide ideation (L-SI), and total score (L-TS) were obtained with the C-SSRS. Patients were recruited from five different provinces in Turkey. Additionally, the patients completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Pearson correlation test and a multiple linear regression analysis were used to determine variables predictive of suicide scores. Results: The results of multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the BDI and DERS - total scores explained 35% (adjusted R) of the variance in C-SI ((F (2;67) = 19.61, P < 0.001). C-TS was explained by 'BDI,' 'emotional neglect' and 'DERS impulse' (38% (adjusted R) (F (3;66) = 15.15, P < 0.001). L-SI was only associated with DERS strategies (explains 13% (adjusted R) of the variance in L-SI (F (1;68) = 10.411, P = 0.02). Concerning the C-SSRS L-TS, the DERS impulse and CTQ total accounted for 24% (adjusted R) of the variance (F (2;67) = 10.620, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that adolescents who have experienced emotional neglect and depressive symptoms are more at risk for suicidal ideation and behaviour. In addition, depressed adolescents who show impulsive behaviours and restricted emotional strategies are also at risk. Identifying neglected depressed adolescents and teaching impulse control and effective emotional strategies is important for the prevention of suicidal behaviours and thoughts.

Community pharmacist encounters with patients displaying suicide warning signs: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundMental health is a prominent public health issue exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Community pharmacists are positioned to contribute. ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe Iowa community pharmacists’ encounters, confidence, behaviors, and training needs related to patients with suicide warning signs and explore relationships between demographics and previous training with encounter frequency, confidence, and behaviors. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was mailed to a sample of community pharmacists in Iowa. Three contacts were made between May and June 2022 including a prenotification letter, survey with a paid return envelope, and reminder postcard, each with a QR code for optional online completion. The survey included demographics, suicide warning sign encounter types, confidence, suicide prevention behaviors, and suicide prevention training history and needs. Analysis of variance and t tests compared differences between demographics and previous training with encounter frequency, confidence, and behaviors. ResultsThe response rate was 18.3% with 161 survey completions. Pharmacists reported encounters with patients who appeared distressed (96.3%), made concerning statements related to suicide (23.8%), and disclosed suicidal thoughts (8.8%). A minority of pharmacists had asked patients about suicide (21.1%) or referred them to crisis resources in the past year (17.4%). A third had previous suicide prevention training (37.9%), which was associated with higher levels of confidence (P < 0.001) and intervention behaviors (P < 0.05). Respondents expressed interest in training, particularly on intervention and referral. ConclusionsThis sample of community pharmacists encountered patients with suicide warning signs. Providing more pharmacists with training and support in understanding local mental health resources and referrals may increase their confidence and engagement in suicide prevention.

Uncontrollability of suicidal ideation adds incremental explanatory power in prediction of later suicidal ideation.

Suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors are major public health concerns in the United States and are difficult to treat and predict. Risk factors that are incrementally informative are needed to improve prediction and inform prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Uncontrollability of suicidal ideation, one parameter of suicidal ideation, is one such candidate. In the current study, we assessed the predictive power of uncontrollability of suicidal ideation, over and above overall suicidal ideation, for future suicidal ideation in a large sample of active-duty service members. A total of 1044 suicidal military service members completed baseline assessments, of whom 664 (63.6%) completed 3-month follow-up assessments. While baseline overall suicidal ideation itself was the strongest predictor of future suicidal ideation, uncontrollability of suicidal ideation added some incremental explanatory power. Further study of uncontrollability of suicidal thought is needed to elucidate its impact on suicidal outcomes.

Determinants of suicidal behavior in dementia: A Swedish national register-based study.

To examine predictors of suicidal behavior (SB) in adults aged 75 years and above with dementia. Longitudinal national register-based study. Swedish residents aged ≥75 years with dementia identified in the Swedish Dementia Registry (SveDem) between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2017 (N = 59 042) and followed until 31 December 2018. Data were linked with numerous national registers using personal identity numbers. Outcomes were nonfatal self-harm and suicide. Fine and Gray regression models were used to investigate demographics, comorbidities, and psychoactive medications associated with fatal and nonfatal SB. Suicidal behavior was observed in 160 persons after dementia diagnosis; 29 of these died by suicide. Adjusted sub-hazard ratio (aSHRs) for SB was increased in those who had a previous episode of self-harm (aSHR = 14.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.06-29.46), those with serious depression (aSHR = 4.33, 95%CI = 2.94-6.4), and in those born outside Sweden (aSHR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.03-2.27). Use of hypnotics or anxiolytics was also associated with a higher risk of SB; use of antidepressants was not. Milder dementia and higher frailty score also increased risk of SB. Risk was decreased in those who received home care (aSHR = 0.52; 95%CI = 0.38-0.71) and in the oldest group (aSHR = 0.35; 95%CI = 0.25-0.49). In addition to established targets for suicidal behavior prevention (improved identification and treatment of depression and previous self-harm), several new risk factors were suggested. There is a need for innovative public health strategies to meet the needs of older dementia patients with a foreign background. Home care may have a potential positive effect to prevent SB in people with dementia, but this needs to be further explored.

Using modern technologies for prevention of suicidal behavior among adolescents

ABSTRACT The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an intervention using a smartphone application for psychological self-help among adolescents at risk of suicidal behavior. Over 12 weeks, a proprietary program was implemented for children aged 13–15. The questionnaire results of the experimental and control groups were compared using the independent samples t-test. The research results underscore the practical significance of employing self-help psychological apps as an additional tool in working with youth at risk of suicidal behavior. Integrating such technologies into adolescent interventions can contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of psychological support and preventing negative mental health consequences.