Page 87 - Petelin Ana. Ur. 2022. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of children and adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 87
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-167-4.87-99
The impact of the environment
on the distress and suicidal behaviour
of children and adolescents
Meta Lavrič, Monika Brdnik, Vanja Gomboc, Nuša Zadravec Šedivy, Vita Poštuvan
University of Primorska, Andrej Marušič Institute, Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Koper, Slovenia
meta.lavric@iam.upr.si, monika.brdnik@iam.upr.si, vanja.gomboc@iam.upr.si, nusa.sedivy@iam.upr.si,
vita.postuvan@upr.si
Abstract
Suicide is a serious public health problem, with adolescents being one
of the vulnerable groups for suicidal behaviour. This paper provides
an overview of environmental risk and protective factors for suicidal
behaviour in adolescents, focusing on the importance of peers, the
school environment, the wider community and the media. For each of
the factors described, the potential for preventive interventions to reduce
the risk of suicidal behaviour in adolescents is also presented. Due to
the complexity of suicidal behaviour, preventive interventions need to
be carefully planned and adapted to an understanding of the specifics
of adolescence as a developmental stage. Through the factors described,
each of us can contribute to the prevention of suicidal behaviour in
adolescents by talking about these issues appropriately, reporting on
them appropriately, and empowering young people to resolve distress
and seek help by creating a safe and receptive environment.
Keywords: suicidal behaviour, adolescents, risk factors, protective factors,
preventive activities
Introduction
Suicide is a serious public health problem; every year, around 800,000 people
die by suicide (WHO, 2021a), i.e. one person every 40 seconds (NIJZ, 2020). In
Slovenia, about 400 people die by suicide every year, but a significant decrease
in the suicide rate has been observed for several years (SURS, 2022b). The sui-
cide rate (number of deaths by suicide per 100,000 people), which is usually 20,
was 17.08 in 2018. This was the lowest rate since 1965, i.e. since we have been sys-
tematically recording the suicide rate in Slovenia (NIJZ, 2020).
The impact of the environment
on the distress and suicidal behaviour
of children and adolescents
Meta Lavrič, Monika Brdnik, Vanja Gomboc, Nuša Zadravec Šedivy, Vita Poštuvan
University of Primorska, Andrej Marušič Institute, Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Koper, Slovenia
meta.lavric@iam.upr.si, monika.brdnik@iam.upr.si, vanja.gomboc@iam.upr.si, nusa.sedivy@iam.upr.si,
vita.postuvan@upr.si
Abstract
Suicide is a serious public health problem, with adolescents being one
of the vulnerable groups for suicidal behaviour. This paper provides
an overview of environmental risk and protective factors for suicidal
behaviour in adolescents, focusing on the importance of peers, the
school environment, the wider community and the media. For each of
the factors described, the potential for preventive interventions to reduce
the risk of suicidal behaviour in adolescents is also presented. Due to
the complexity of suicidal behaviour, preventive interventions need to
be carefully planned and adapted to an understanding of the specifics
of adolescence as a developmental stage. Through the factors described,
each of us can contribute to the prevention of suicidal behaviour in
adolescents by talking about these issues appropriately, reporting on
them appropriately, and empowering young people to resolve distress
and seek help by creating a safe and receptive environment.
Keywords: suicidal behaviour, adolescents, risk factors, protective factors,
preventive activities
Introduction
Suicide is a serious public health problem; every year, around 800,000 people
die by suicide (WHO, 2021a), i.e. one person every 40 seconds (NIJZ, 2020). In
Slovenia, about 400 people die by suicide every year, but a significant decrease
in the suicide rate has been observed for several years (SURS, 2022b). The sui-
cide rate (number of deaths by suicide per 100,000 people), which is usually 20,
was 17.08 in 2018. This was the lowest rate since 1965, i.e. since we have been sys-
tematically recording the suicide rate in Slovenia (NIJZ, 2020).
