Document Type : Letter to Editor

Authors

1 Department of Mental Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

2 University of Benin Secondary School, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Suicide is a growing public health concern due to the disturbingly high mortality, morbidity and burden associated with it. It is among the leading causes of death in people aged 15–19 years (1). According to the World Health Organisation, the global suicide prevalence per 100,000 is 13.68 in the lower-middle-income countries, 22.68 in the upper-middle-income countries, and 12.72 in high-income countries. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of suicide in all age groups and races has continued to rise steadily (2). This underscores the need for renewed efforts to address this public health issue.

Highlights

How to Cite: Akanni OO, Akanni OD. Psycho-education as the School Suicide Prevention Strategy in Low and Middle-Income Countries: Half Bread is Better than None. Int. J. School. Health. 2024;11(4):289-291. doi: 10.30476/intjsh.2024.103577.1430.

 

Oluyemi O. Akanni: (Google Scholar), (PubMed)

Keywords

  1. World Health Organization. Adolescent and young adult health; 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescents-health-risks-and-solutions. ##
  2. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Youth Suicide Rates Increased During the COVID-19 Pandemic; 2023. Available from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2023/youth-suicide-rates-increased-during-the-covid-19-pandemic. ##
  3. World Health Organization. Global Health Estimates; 2018. Available from: https://www.who.int/data/global-health-estimates. ##
  4. Suicide Prevention Center NY. A Guide For Suicide Prevention In New York Schools; 2021. Available from: https://www.preventsuicideny.org/a-guide-for-suicide-prevention-in-new-york-schools. ##
  5. World Health Organization. Suicide worldwide in 2019; 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026643. ##
  6. Katz C, Bolton SL, Katz LY, Isaak C, Tilston-Jones T, Sareen J, et al. A Systematic Review of School-Based Suicide Prevention Programs. Depress Anxiety. 2013;30(10):1030–45. doi: 10.1002/da.22114. PubMed PMID: 23650186. ##
  7. Torok M, Calear A, Shand F, Christensen H. A Systematic Review of Mass Media Campaigns for Suicide Prevention: Understanding Their Efficacy and the Mechanisms Needed for Successful Behavioral and Literacy Change. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2017;47(6):672–687. doi: 10.1111/sltb.12324. PubMed PMID: 28044354. ##
  8. Portzky G, Van Heeringen K. Suicide prevention in adolescents: a controlled study of the effectiveness of a school-based psycho-educational program. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006;47(9):910–8. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01595.x. PubMed PMID: 16930385. ##
  9. Calear AL, Batterham PJ, Trias A, Christensen H. The Literacy of Suicide Scale. Crisis. 2022;43(5):385–390. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000798. PubMed PMID: 34128704. ##
  10. Kutcher S, Wei Y, Coniglio C. Mental Health Literacy: Past, Present, and Future. Can J Psychiatry. 2016;61(3):154–8. doi: 10.1177/0706743715616609. PubMed PMID: 27254090; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4813415. ##