Page 93 - Petelin Ana. Ur. 2022. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of children and adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 93
Nevertheless, the wider community can play an important role in pre- the impact of the environment on the distress and suicidal behaviour of children and adolescents 93
venting suicidal behaviour in children and adolescents. Protective factors at the
broader community level include good relationships with friends and commu-
nity, cultural and community beliefs that discourage youth from suicidal be-
haviour, and access to proper mental health services (CDC, 2021a). Geograph-
ical limitations in accessing suitable mental health services for children and
adolescents are being overcome with new technologies and internet-based ser-
vices. Online counselling can be equally effective in enabling the receipt of im-
portant information, helping to protect the life of a person in need, and choos-
ing a specialist with the appropriate skills (Fenichel et al., 2002). In addition,
access to appropriate services may be related to combating stigma. A recent
study (Poštuvan et al., 2019) on young people belonging to sexual minorities
showed that a community that accepts and supports these young people can
help mitigate the adverse effects of bullying and victimisation and consequent-
ly reduce the risk of suicidality.
Connecting children and adolescents with the wider community is an
important protective factor. Good relationships and connections with people
from the wider community can strengthen the adolescent’s sense of belonging
to the community, which can reduce the risk of suicidal behaviour. Young peo-
ple may be more motivated to find constructive solutions due to a sense of be-
longing, and community members may be more motivated to observe and re-
fer a young person in distress to appropriate professional sources of help (CDC,
2021b). Therefore, for effective prevention of suicidal behaviour in children and
adolescents, prevention work aimed at reducing stigma and providing infor-
mation about the problem at the community level, not just at the level of those
at risk, is important. Knowing sources of help and having the attitude that it is
not a sign of weakness to seek (professional) support in an emergency can be
extremely important (Gilchrist & Sullivan, 2006).
The importance of the media regarding distress and suicidality of children
and adolescents
The media and the way suicidal behaviour is portrayed in the media may in-
crease or decrease the risk of suicide. The risk may increase if the way suicide
is portrayed in the media is inappropriate (WHO, 2017) or if a person in dis-
tress identifies with a person reported in the media who has died by suicide. A
person may identify with another person because of similar personality traits,
life circumstances, or because of the person’s status (e.g. the deceased was fa-
mous) (Pirkis et al., 2006). Since a famous person often enjoys the respect of
the public and is perceived by people as a role model, the risk of imitating that
person’s behaviour is even greater if that person dies by suicide (Samaritans,
2020). The way suicide is portrayed in the media can also increase the risk of
suicide. If the type of coverage reinforces suicidal behaviour (e.g. romantic or
glamorous portrayal of a person and their (attempted) suicide) or if an adoles-
cent is exposed to more extensive reporting of suicide, the risk is higher (Pirk-
venting suicidal behaviour in children and adolescents. Protective factors at the
broader community level include good relationships with friends and commu-
nity, cultural and community beliefs that discourage youth from suicidal be-
haviour, and access to proper mental health services (CDC, 2021a). Geograph-
ical limitations in accessing suitable mental health services for children and
adolescents are being overcome with new technologies and internet-based ser-
vices. Online counselling can be equally effective in enabling the receipt of im-
portant information, helping to protect the life of a person in need, and choos-
ing a specialist with the appropriate skills (Fenichel et al., 2002). In addition,
access to appropriate services may be related to combating stigma. A recent
study (Poštuvan et al., 2019) on young people belonging to sexual minorities
showed that a community that accepts and supports these young people can
help mitigate the adverse effects of bullying and victimisation and consequent-
ly reduce the risk of suicidality.
Connecting children and adolescents with the wider community is an
important protective factor. Good relationships and connections with people
from the wider community can strengthen the adolescent’s sense of belonging
to the community, which can reduce the risk of suicidal behaviour. Young peo-
ple may be more motivated to find constructive solutions due to a sense of be-
longing, and community members may be more motivated to observe and re-
fer a young person in distress to appropriate professional sources of help (CDC,
2021b). Therefore, for effective prevention of suicidal behaviour in children and
adolescents, prevention work aimed at reducing stigma and providing infor-
mation about the problem at the community level, not just at the level of those
at risk, is important. Knowing sources of help and having the attitude that it is
not a sign of weakness to seek (professional) support in an emergency can be
extremely important (Gilchrist & Sullivan, 2006).
The importance of the media regarding distress and suicidality of children
and adolescents
The media and the way suicidal behaviour is portrayed in the media may in-
crease or decrease the risk of suicide. The risk may increase if the way suicide
is portrayed in the media is inappropriate (WHO, 2017) or if a person in dis-
tress identifies with a person reported in the media who has died by suicide. A
person may identify with another person because of similar personality traits,
life circumstances, or because of the person’s status (e.g. the deceased was fa-
mous) (Pirkis et al., 2006). Since a famous person often enjoys the respect of
the public and is perceived by people as a role model, the risk of imitating that
person’s behaviour is even greater if that person dies by suicide (Samaritans,
2020). The way suicide is portrayed in the media can also increase the risk of
suicide. If the type of coverage reinforces suicidal behaviour (e.g. romantic or
glamorous portrayal of a person and their (attempted) suicide) or if an adoles-
cent is exposed to more extensive reporting of suicide, the risk is higher (Pirk-
