Citation

Jatchavala C, Pongthanawisut S. J. Med. Soc. 2021; 35(1): 7-12.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/jms.jms_29_21

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: During the 2 months of February and March 2019, more than 10 Thai university students were official reported to have committed suicide, which may impact on others' suicidality. Aims: This study aims to examine media and other factors influenced suicidal ideation among Thai university students, during the crisis of suicidal height in March-April 2019.

METHODS: The study was of a retrospective and cross-sectional design. Patients, who were university students and accessed the psychiatric outpatient clinic in March-April 2019, were recruited. Data collected by the hospital's databased system included patient profiles, perceptions of media influencing suicidality, and the Thai version of the suicide screening test.

RESULTS: Of the 68 participants, most participants were female (75.0%). They mostly stated that they were at a high risk of suicide (35.0%); whereas those who reported that the media influenced them were shown to have 3.5 times, higher risk of suicide (P = 0.012). Moreover, the moderate risk of suicide was statistically significantly associated with media, while other variables did not associate with suicidal risk (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: During the crisis of copycat suicides, among Thai university students; most of whom were psychiatric outpatients, were at high risk for suicide. In addition, those who reported that the media had influenced them demonstrated a higher risk of suicide. Moreover, those who were at moderate risk for suicide were significantly associated with media. © 2021 Journal of Medical Society | Published by Wolters Kluwer-Medknow.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; mental health; suicide; Suicide; female; male; Thailand; bipolar disorder; Media; suicidal ideation; depression; anxiety; interview; suicidal behavior; Student; major clinical study; mental disease; retrospective study; sensitivity and specificity; cross-sectional study; sociology; screening test; ICD-10; Article; university student; young adult; Imitative behavior; social media; applied science; environmental surveillance; health science