Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Suicide and Its Prevention Among Pre-University Students in Bangalore: A Pre-Experimental Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53926/YNJR/0028Keywords:
structured teaching programme, suicide prevention, knowledge, attitude, Pre-University students, adolescents, BangaloreAbstract
Background: Suicide is a major public-health concern among adolescents and young adults. Pre-University (PU) students are exposed to academic, emotional and social pressures, and structured education may strengthen knowledge and attitudes related to suicide prevention.
Objective: To assess knowledge and attitude regarding suicide and its prevention among PU students and to determine the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme.
Methods: A quantitative, pre-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test design was employed among 85 PU students in a selected college in Bangalore. Participants were selected by non-probability conveinence sampling. A structured knowledge questionnaire and attitude scale were administered before the intervention. The structured teaching programme was delivered in a single 30–45-minute lecture-cum-discussion session supported by audio-visual aids; post-test assessment was conducted 7 days later. Descriptive statistics, paired t-tests and chi-square tests were used for analysis.
Results: Adequate knowledge was reported by 76.2% of students at pre-test and 97.6% at post-test; favorable attitude increased from 64.5% to 84.5%. Mean knowledge scores increased from 22.44±3.175 to 27.53±2.994 (t = −10.859, p < 0.0001). Mean attitude scores increased from 39.44±4.905 to 41.73±4.635 (t = −3.395, p < 0.001). No significant association was reported between pre-test knowledge and the assessed sociodemographic variables.
Conclusion: The structured teaching programme was associated with statistically significant improvements in knowledge and attitude regarding suicide and its prevention among PU students. School/college-based mental-health education may be a valuable component of adolescent suicide-prevention efforts
References
1. World Health Organization. Suicide worldwide in 2019: Global health estimates. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021.
2. Patel V, Flisher AJ, Hetrick S, McGorry P. Mental health of young people: a global public-health challenge. Lancet. 2007;369(9569):1302–1313. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60368-7
3. National Crime Records Bureau. Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India 2021. New Delhi: Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India; 2022.
4. Deb S, Strodl E, Sun J. Academic stress, parental pressure, anxiety and mental health among Indian high school students. Int J Psychol Behav Sci. 2015;5(1):26–34.
5. Nguyen DT, Dedding C, Pham TT, Wright P, Bunders J. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among Vietnamese secondary school students and proposed solutions: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:1195. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-1195
6. Nock MK, Borges G, Bromet EJ, Cha CB, Kessler RC, Lee S. Suicide and suicidal behavior. Epidemiol Rev. 2008;30(1):133–154. doi:10.1093/epirev/mxn002
7. Dema T, Tripathy JP, Thinley S, et al. Suicidal ideation and attempt among school-going adolescents in Bhutan. BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):1104. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-7409-5
8. Shaffer D, Gould MS, Fisher P, Trautman P, Moreau D, Kleinman M, Flory M. Psychiatric diagnosis in child and adolescent suicide. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1996;53(4):339–348. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1996.01830040075010
9. Robinson J, Cox G, Malone A, Williamson M, Baldwin G, Fletcher K, O’Brien M. A systematic review of school-based interventions aimed at preventing, treating, and responding to suicide-related behavior in young people. Crisis. 2013;34(3):164–182. doi:10.1027/0227-5910/a000168
10. Nebhinani N, Kuppili PP, Paul K, Mamta. Effectiveness of brief educational training on medical students’ attitude toward suicide prevention. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2020;11(4):609–615. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1716769
11. Strunk CM, King KA, Vidourek RA, Sorter MT. Effectiveness of the Surviving the Teens® suicide prevention and depression awareness program. Health Educ Behav. 2014;41(6):605–613. doi:10.1177/1090198114531774
12. Zinzow HM, Thompson MP, Fulmer CB, Goree J, Evinger L. Evaluation of a brief suicide prevention training program for college campuses. Arch Suicide Res. 2020;24(1):82–95. doi:10.1080/13811118.2018.1509749
13. Breet E, Matooane M, Tomlinson M, Bantjes J. Systematic review and narrative synthesis of suicide prevention in high-schools and universities: a research agenda for evidence-based practice. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):1116. doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11124-w
