Assessing the risk factors of suicide among adolescents and evaluating the knowledge on suicide prevention at Goalpara, Assam

Abstract

Background of the Study: A study was conducted to assess the risk factors of suicide among adolescents and evaluate the knowledge on suicide prevention in selected colleges of Goalpara district, Assam. Aims: Aims of the study were to reduce suicide rate among adolescents by creating awareness, provide knowledge on risk factors of suicide and suicide prevention. Objectives: 1.To assess the risk factors of suicide among adolescents in control and experimental group before intervention. 2.To assess the knowledge on suicide prevention among adolescents in control and experimental group before and after intervention. 3.To evaluate the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on increasing knowledge suicide prevention among adolescents of experimental group. Materials and Methods: It was a quantitative approach, quasi experimental study with pre test-post test and control group design. Purposive non random sampling technique was used to select the sample. The study was conducted in two colleges with 80 students, 40 in each control and experimental group. Adolescents selected for the study were the students between the age group of 16-19 years and were studying higher secondary standard. Self administered structured questionnaire was used which consist of three part related to socio-demographic data, risk factors of suicide and knowledge on suicide prevention. Structured teaching programme was conducted to the experimental group which included knowledge on suicide prevention. Results: There was significant difference ('t'=14.607, p=0.000) between control and experimental group in the post test of knowledge on suicide prevention. The overall post test knowledge score on suicide prevention showed that majority of the respondents acquired good knowledge in experimental group. The results indicated that adolescents suicide can be prevented by increasing knowledge, awareness and developing positive attitude.