A Study on the Effectiveness of Adolescent's Suicide Prevention Program / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Though the youth suicide rate in Korea is similar to those in other OECD countries, it was the first cause of death among youths in Korea during the five years from 2009 to 2013. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a school based suicide prevention program for adolescents. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 134 first grade students in middle school in Gyeonggi-do. The independent samples t-test was performed to detect differences in the suicide attitude between the experimental and control groups, and the levels of suicide prevention knowledge and activities were analyzed by χ² (chi-squared) analysis. RESULTS: The difference in the effectiveness of the suicide prevention program for adolescents on the suicide attitude between the control group (−1.12±2.08) and experimental group (1.24±4.51) turned out to be statistically significant (t=3.893, p<0.001). The experimental group was more likely to show a positive change than the control group. Moreover, since it raised the suicide prevention knowledge (χ²=6.041, p=0.049) and activities (χ²=16.284, p<0.001) compared to the control, it was confirmed that the suicide prevention program for adolescents would be very effective. CONCLUSION: The adolescent's suicide prevention program of Gyeonggi-do is considered to reinforce teenagers' values against suicide and bring about behavioral changes leading to effective suicide prevention. Further studies are needed for the evaluation and expansion of the long-term effects of the program.