The Associated Factors of Self-Harm and Suicide Ideation Among Chinese Indonesians During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to identify the associated factors of self-harm and suicide ideation among Chinese Indonesians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A nonrandom sampling was performed through a nationwide online survey in Indonesia (May–June 2021). The online survey covered participants’ demographic information, suicide literacy, suicide stigma, loneliness, and self-harm and suicide ideation. A series of t-tests, χ2 tests, and hierarchical logistic regressions with the backward stepwise method were used to identify the factors associated with self-harm and suicide ideation. Responses from a total of 484 Chinese Indonesians were analyzed in this study. Results: The predictive model showed a significant goodness of fit to the observed data [χ2(17) = 174.1, p < .001; R N2 = .41]. Chinese Indonesians with an average monthly income of ≥USD 843 were found to be 0.23 times (95% CI = 0.07–0.99) less likely to experience self-harm and suicide ideation than those who did not have an income. A one-point increase in the intensity of suicide glorification and loneliness were associated with 3.06 and 3.67 increase in the chance of experiencing self-harm and suicide ideation, respectively. Conclusion: One third of Chinese Indonesians self-reported self-harm and suicide ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health and suicide prevention intervention programs are recommended to target those with low socioeconomic status, high glorification toward suicide, and high perceived loneliness.

A Pioneering Effort to Give Voices to Indigenous Psychology in Southeast Asia

“…These include the Filipino values of “ kapwa ” (shared identity) and Indonesian values of “ Mangan ora mangan sing penting kumpul ” and “ Dalihan Na Tolu ” (both referring to the importance of kinship) in relation to one’s preferred sources of social supports (Barrozo et al., 2023), Filipino coping strategies of “ diskarte ” (resourcefulness) and “ bayanihan ” (mutual, collective support) in managing mental health challenges (Umil et al, 2023), the “ Sikolohiyang Pilipino ” (Filipino Psychology) movement in the Philippines (Terol et al, 2023), the “ kiasu ” mindset (fear of losing out; Cheng & Wee, 2023), and traditional Chinese healing practices of “ dang-ki ” (consultations with a divine deity; Lee, 2023) in Singapore. The contributions all address sustainable development goals in SEA communities, such as mental health challenges and practices in Indonesia (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Barrozo et al, 2023; Umil et al, 2023) and Singapore (Lee, 2023); the marginalization of ethnic minority groups (Prawira et al, 2023; Sundararajan, 2023; Terol et al, 2023); effects of postcolonialism in the Philippines (Barrozo et al, 2023; Terol et al, 2023) and Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023); and issues of urbanization, deforestation, and climate change in Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023). Some assessed specifically the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SEA populations’ well-being, including comparisons of COVID-19 stigma and quality of life in Indonesia and the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023), the associated factors of self-harm and suicide ideation among Chinese Indonesians (Prawira et al, 2023), and the mental health challenges faced and coping strategies utilized by doctors working in rural areas in the Philippines (Umil et al, 2023).…”

“…The contributions all address sustainable development goals in SEA communities, such as mental health challenges and practices in Indonesia (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Barrozo et al, 2023; Umil et al, 2023) and Singapore (Lee, 2023); the marginalization of ethnic minority groups (Prawira et al, 2023; Sundararajan, 2023; Terol et al, 2023); effects of postcolonialism in the Philippines (Barrozo et al, 2023; Terol et al, 2023) and Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023); and issues of urbanization, deforestation, and climate change in Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023). Some assessed specifically the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SEA populations’ well-being, including comparisons of COVID-19 stigma and quality of life in Indonesia and the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023), the associated factors of self-harm and suicide ideation among Chinese Indonesians (Prawira et al, 2023), and the mental health challenges faced and coping strategies utilized by doctors working in rural areas in the Philippines (Umil et al, 2023).…”

“…Collectively, this special issue also features a variety of research methodologies including qualitative (Barrozo et al, 2023; Lee, 2023; Umil et al, 2023) and quantitative (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), as well as conceptual papers (Cheng & Wee, 2023; Sundararajan, 2023; Terol et al, 2023). The contributions also feature a variety of SEA countries: Singapore (Cheng & Wee, 2023; ), the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al., 2023; Barrozo et al, 2023; Terol et al, 2023; Umil et al, 2023), Indonesia (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), and Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023) and collaborations across Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023).…”

“…Collectively, this special issue also features a variety of research methodologies including qualitative (Barrozo et al, 2023; Lee, 2023; Umil et al, 2023) and quantitative (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), as well as conceptual papers (Cheng & Wee, 2023; Sundararajan, 2023; Terol et al, 2023). The contributions also feature a variety of SEA countries: Singapore (Cheng & Wee, 2023; ), the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al., 2023; Barrozo et al, 2023; Terol et al, 2023; Umil et al, 2023), Indonesia (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), and Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023) and collaborations across Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023). Some included marginalized populations and Indigenous people in SEA, such as the Clarkfield Aytas community (Terol et al., 2023) and the rural Eastern Visayas community in the Philippines (Umil et al, 2023), ethnic minority Chinese Indonesians in Indonesia (Prawira et al, 2023), traditional Chinese devotees in Singapore (Lee, 2023), and the Indigenous people ( Orang Asli ) in Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023).…”

“…There is a strong practice focus in many of the contributions. Importantly, the voices of a variety of populations during the pandemic are featured, such as helping professionals (Barrozo et al, 2023), frontliners (Umil et al, 2023), Chinese diaspora (Lee, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), and Indigenous people (Sundararajan, 2023; Terol et al., 2023). The contributions describe the various impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in this region, which, in turn, can inform policy makers and future community engagements with healthcare practitioners.…”