ABSTRACT
Background:Suicide is an intentional fatal act of self-destructionand largely preventable phenomenon. Early Identification of suicide risk factors, proactive preventive steps and therapeutic interventions tend to reduce robustly its epidemiological trends including associated high mortality around the world. Objective:This review study aimed to critically describe the identified potential risk factors underlying suicide together with a specific focus on its relevant preventive and management strategies. Methods:A selective e-searches of Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE and ScienceDirect of relevant English literature (2000-2019) was conducted by using keywords and Boolean operators, and following exclusion and inclusion criteria included 115 most influentialarticles for this critical review.Results:Suicide is a global preventable phenomenon determined by multiple interconnected risk factors and mechanisms embedded in several levels; population (indigenous people and social media), individual (distal predisposing factors), developmental (mediating factors) and proximal (precipitating factors).Evidently suicide needs multimodal intervention approach in terms of universal, selective and indicated prevention. Conclusion:Suicide is a global heterogeneous phenomenon and needs continuing concerted efforts of multidisciplinary health team and multi-sector stakeholders because its risk pathways and protective factors dynamically changes overtime across the world
ABSTRACT
Background: Mental health awareness surveys that assess the broad knowledge of various stakeholders including public nationwide help in the development of relevant strategies to enhance their poor mental health literacy. Objective:The aim of this telephone polling survey was to measure mental health awareness of general public in Saudi Arabia.Method:The participants (n=1068) randomly selected from 13 regions of Saudi Arabia were contacted by 15 trained Saudi girl interviewers for conducting 30-minutes individual interview in Arabic language using a self-designed 15-item questionnaire.Results:About one fourthof responders (23%) reported either personal or family member having mental disorder, and depression and anxiety disorders were the commonest problems. Stigmaagainst mental disorders and consulting health professionals, misperceptions towards psychotropics and social exclusion and shame were variably reported by the participants. Though the participants perceived barriers to have access to MH services, 55% ofresponders reported MH services were of good to excellent grade, and the two most common help-seeking modes were psychiatric and religious and spiritual service providers.Conclusion:Although this community participatory mental health polling survey is found to have encouraging mental health literacy of public participants, evidence based training programs and campaigns for further improving people mental health literacy are needed in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Arabian Gulf countries