Development of a school-based education and Awareness Programme to support adolescents with suicidal ideation

Abstract

Yearly, approximately 800,000 individuals across the globe succumb to suicide. Suicide ranks as the fourth leading cause of death among older adolescents, particularly those aged 15 to 19 years. Approximately 60% of adolescents who experience suicidal ideation ultimately end up attempting suicide, with over 86.1% doing so within the first year after they begin to contemplate suicide. These findings underscore the urgent need for effective prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the incidence of suicidal behaviour among adolescents. It is crucial that teachers and peers remain vigilant in identifying and addressing risk factors for suicidal ideation and that evidence-based interventions are readily available to those in need. This phenomenological research study aimed to explore the experiences of adolescents with suicidal ideation and identify various risk factors such as depression, mental health, bullying, substance abuse, family history of suicidal behaviour, social-environmental factors, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that may have contributed to suicidal thoughts and behaviour in adolescents. Furthermore, the researcher aimed to determine the markers that teachers and peers can use to detect suicidal intentions in adolescents. Utilising the data gathered from the interviews the primary purpose of this study was to develop a school-based education and awareness programme for supporting and educating adolescents experiencing suicidal ideation. This study was conducted at a high school in Tshwane, South Africa, with a target population of 14–18-year-olds with past suicidal ideation. The participants were chosen by purposive sampling, as well as their voluntary agreement to participate in the study The data were collected using semi-structured interviews. A qualitative research method was used to gather and investigate data on the participants' encounters with suicidal thoughts and behaviours. The data gathered in this research underwent analysis and interpretation using Hycner's explicitation process. This strategy enabled the identification of six overarching themes and eleven subthemes. iii The findings indicated slight differences when contrasted with existing academic literature, emphasising that alcohol and drug misuse are prominent risk factors for the emergence of suicidal ideation in adolescents. This research study found that interpersonal conflict in family and social interactions impacts the probability of suicidal ideation in adolescents, emphasising its importance as a key risk factor.