Rate and Associated Factors of Suicidal Behavior among Adolescents in Bangladesh and Indonesia: Global School‐Based Student Health Survey Data Analysis

Abstract

Objective. Suicidal behavior among adolescents is a major public health problem that is understudied in South East Asian Muslim-majority countries. We aimed to investigate the rate and associated factors of suicidal behavior among adolescents in Bangladesh and Indonesia. Methods. The Global School-based Student Health Survey data of Bangladesh and Indonesia were used in this study. The data consist of a total of 9052 school-aged students from Bangladesh (2570, 28.4%) and Indonesia (6482, 71.6%). Suicidal behavior was assessed using three questions that measure suicidal ideation, suicidal plan, and suicidal attempts. Results. The overall rate of suicidal behavior (suicidal ideation, suicidal plan, and suicidal attempts) was 8.8%, and no significant difference between the two countries (8.9% in Bangladesh and 8.7 in Indonesia) was observed ( p = 0.81 ). Factors that independently increased the likelihood of suicidal behavior include female gender, missed class, physical fight four times or more, experienced bullying, anxiety, loneliness, rarely eating fruit, current alcohol use, and sedentary behavior ( p < 0.05 ). Meanwhile, factors that independently decreased the likelihood of suicidal behavior include parental supervision and having close friends, either one, two, three persons, or more ( p < 0.05 ). Conclusion. The study revealed rates and risk factors of suicidal behaviors among the school-going adolescents of two Muslim-majority countries in South East Asia. Prevention strategies should be considered guided by the risk factors for school-going adolescents.

Changes in Media Reporting Quality and Suicides Following National Media Engagement on Responsible Reporting of Suicide in Canada: Changements de la Qualité des reportages dans les médias sur les suicides suite à l’engagement des médias nationaux à la déclaration responsable du suicide au Canada

“…Prior research has demonstrated that dissemination of media guidelines specifically can lead to improved reporting; however, effects can be variable and may fluctuate over time and, often, journalist awareness and use of guidelines can be low, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. 32 , 46 – 66 The discrepancy between our encouraging putatively harmful/protective element outcomes and our stark Gestalt narrative findings suggest that the current lists of “dos” and “don’ts” provided to journalists may not only miss the forest for the trees, but indeed leave suicide-related media reporting in the wrong forest altogether. It is worth underscoring that societal messaging and narratives about suicide and its prevention appear to differ from public messaging about almost any other health outcome.…”

Suicide in the geriatric population of South East Asia - contexts and attributes

“…44 Some studies from China, Bangladesh, and Indonesia reveal that lack of friendship, less familial support, frequent harassment, quarrel among peers, worrying, loneliness, unhealthy dietary practices, alcohol use, and inactiveness can all lead to suicide or suicide attempts among youth and adults. 45,46 In summary, it can be said that a male older adult, who has a dependency, resides in a rural area, has any ailment but especially psychiatric illness (depression) or a mild level of dementia or disability, has neither formal nor informal support, or lives alone, and feels withdrawn from society, is at risk of developing negative emotions and committing suicide, and such factors need to be taken care of.…”

Unveiling Adolescent Suicide Cases in Indonesia through the Lens of Maslow's Needs Theory

“…(Asarnow et al, 2020). A study conducted by (Marthoenis and Yasir Arafat, 2022)) teenagers in Indonesia showed that out of 6,482 adolescent respondents surveyed, 71.6% had suicidal ideas. Furthermore, the study also that 5.14% of students actually had a suicidal idea in the last year.…”