Parents’ Perceptions of Suicide and Requests for Increased Awareness in Prevention of Children’s Suicidal Behavior

Abstract

Introduction. The issue of suicidal behavior among minors highlights the need to explore preventive measures within the family. Optimizing family-based suicide prevention for children necessitates the assessment of parental awareness regarding the phenomenon of suicidal behavior and the potential strategies for prevention. This serves as the primary objective of the study. Materials and Methods. A survey was conducted embracing 3,866 parents and containing 85 questions testing parents’ perceptions on suicide determinants, behavioral risk signals, understanding of response methods to avert suicidal behaviors in children, and identification of challenges and requests within suicide prevention and intervention. Results. The findings reveal lacunas in parents’ understanding of suicidal factors, with many respondents downplaying certain factors as inconsequential. Parents predominantly identify overt self-harm indicators as significant markers of suicidal risk, while early warning signs are often overlooked. Given this, some parents perceive direct suicidal threats from children as manipulative tactics. School psychologists and private specialists like psychologists, coaches, and consultants are the main source of hope for parents in terms of suicide prevention. Overall, a majority of respondents acknowledge significant shortcomings in contemporary parents’ suicidological knowledge. Discussion and Conclusion. Tailored interventions to enhance parents’ suicidological awareness show promise and should adhere to specifications such as succinct delivery, accessibility, and evidence-based content. Other important components include the option for remote learning of training materials and parents acquiring skills to aid children in developing coping mechanisms, fostering assertive behavior, providing support during challenging life circumstances, and examining a child’s online presence from a suicidological perspective. Additionally, reinforcing suicidological training, particularly related to deviant behaviors, for educators is deemed pertinent. It is imperative to monitor and evaluate the quality of suicide prevention and counseling services offered by a variety of private specialists like paid psychologists, consultants, psychotherapists, and coaches. The practical significance of this research lies in the fact that the findings may provide a foundation for the development of programs aimed at educating parents about suicidology and preventing suicidal behavior among minors.