A research team led by Dr ZHU Shimin Jasmine, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), examined suicidality and protective factors against suicide among children and adolescents in Hong Kong.
Suicidality refers to the risk of suicide and is often indicated by suicidal ideation, thoughts, plans or attempts. The researchers studied and compared the factors associated with suicidality between the two age groups, based on a large school-based survey comprising 541 grade 4–6 students and 3,061 grade 7–11 students from 15 schools. The researchers identified the correlates of child and youth suicidality, and the correlates’ interaction effects with life satisfaction and self-control. Suicidal ideation was reported in 17.51% of secondary school students and 15.76% of primary school students, and suicidal attempts were reported in 7.84% of secondary school students and 8.17% of primary school students. Common correlates for suicidal ideation were depression, bullying, loneliness, self-compassion, and growth mindset, while those for suicide attempt were depression and bullying. Secondary school respondents with higher life satisfaction reported less suicidal ideation, while primary school respondents with higher self-control reported fewer suicide attempts.
The team recommended recognising the factors of suicidal ideation and attempts in children and adolescents in order to facilitate culturally sensitive suicide preventive strategies tailored to the age-specific needs of young people in Hong Kong.
The research paper was published in Psychiatry Research in March 2023.(www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178123000124)
