Situation analysis of adolescent attempted suicide in Chaiprakarn District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Abstract

This study was conducted on the May – Aug 2011, reviewed the last 5 years information for all adolescent suicide cases of Chaiprakarn district (2006 - 2010), total 30 adolescent suicide cases, three were committers, another four attempters are not living in Chaiprakarn district at the time of study. The remaining 23 attempted suicide cases were included for answering a questionnaire on adolescents and parents’ socio -demographic and behavioral factors, mental health history, depression evaluation with 9 questions and suicide evaluation test with 8 questions. An additional research method was the review of medical records of all suicide cases Licensed SPSS program version 17 was used to calculate descriptive analysis and Chi-Square test at significant level of 95% (p < 0.05) The study has revealed prevalence of 13.3 of adolescent attempted and committed suicide of Chaiprakarn district, approximately closed to the adulthood suicide rate of Chiang Mai province 13.7 and Chaiprakarn district 14.9 in 2009, lower than the world rate of 16.0, but the suicide rate of 13.3 is higher than the Thai national rate 5.96 and target of 6.3 per 100,000 people.The age distribution ranges 12 to 19 years (mean15.74, SD1.98) with slight female predominance (56.5%). All adolescents are Buddhist and most go to temple or church as a practice of religion (65.2%). Significant difference between independent variables and adolescent intention to attempt suicide are non practice of religion of adolescents (Chi–Square15.836, p-value 0.015) and mothers (Chi–Square23.000, p-value 0.001), physically abused behavior to girlfriend / boyfriend (Chi–Square 42.475, p-value 0.001), alcohol use (Chi–Square 10.000, p-value 0.019), agreement with physician or nurse diagnosis of mental health problems(Chi–Square 11.291, p-value 0.504), and sexual orientation.(Chi–Square 23.000, p-value 0.001). Depression, one of independent variables has no significant difference with an adolescent intention to attempt suicide. Most of the study results are congruent with the conceptual framework of the study, certain mental health problems including depression and suicide might be underreported by the participants because of unsafe or non confidential research environment or psychiatric defense mechanism of denial since the respondants have already attempted suicide in the past. Missing data of suicide statistics in Chiang Mai provincial public health office might influenced other insignificant independent variables. Multidisciplinary team, consisting of a physician, mental health nurse, and teacher working together with the community and the secondary schools might play a vital role in adolescent suicide prevention, treatment. Vulnerable adolescents such as psychiatric patients need to be closely monitored, as they are particularly prone to self-harm, after discharge from hospital. Strategies need to be developed to help this group of individuals effective prevention.