Factors associated with different smoking status in European adolescents: results of the SEYLE study.

Early onset and long-term smoking are associated with physical and psychological health problems. The aim of the presented analysis was to investigate risk and influencing factors for different smoking status in a big sample of European adolescents. In the context of the "saving and empowering young lives in Europe" (SEYLE) study we surveyed 12,328 adolescents at the age of 13-17 from 11 countries. The survey took place in a school-based context using a questionnaire. Overall 58% reported the onset of ever-smoking under the age of 14 and 30.9% smoke on a daily basis. Multinomial logistic regression model showed significant positive associations between adolescent smoking and internalizing problems (suicidal behavior, direct self-injurious behavior, anxiety), externalizing problems (conduct problems, hyperactivity, substance consumption) and family problems (parental substance consumption, broken home). Our data show that smoking among adolescents is still a major public health problem and adolescents who smoke are at higher risk for mental problems. Further, adolescent smoking is associated with broken home families and parental behaviors. Therefore, early preventive measures are necessary not only for adolescents, but also for their parents.

All of us? An exploration of the concept of mental health literacy based on young people's responses to fictional mental health vignettes.

OBJECTIVES: Mental health literacy is increasingly referenced as a goal of mental health policy. However, the current definition of this concept has a relatively narrow focus on mental disorders. The objectives of this study were to explore mental health literacy through the use of vignettes and to begin to articulate a broader definition. METHODS: Six groups of young people (n=42) aged between 16 and 25 years old responded to open-ended questions about vignettes depicting fictional characters with diagnosable mental health problems. The responses were analysed using Foucault's governmentality theory. RESULTS: The responses to the vignettes highlighted a range of determinants of our mental health. The young people suggested informal mental health-promoting techniques and highlighted the importance of talking. Ambiguity was reported in relation to the types of knowledge that are important in responding to mental health need. Finally, the responses were reflective of young people who are empathetic and view mental health from the perspective of our shared humanity, rather than as a marginal issue. CONCLUSIONS: As mental health literacy is increasingly becoming a goal of mental health policy, it is timely that a shared understanding of this important concept is articulated. The current definition of mental health literacy is narrow in its focus on the recognition of mental disorders. A more broad-based definition of mental health literacy should be adopted by policy makers, reflecting the full range of determinants of mental health and recognising the importance of mental wellbeing.

Factors associated with deliberate self-harm among Irish adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is a major public health problem, with young people most at risk. Lifetime prevalence of DSH in Irish adolescents is between 8% and 12%, and it is three times more prevalent among girls than boys. The aim of the study was to identify the psychological, life-style and life event factors associated with self-harm in Irish adolescents. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted, with 3881 adolescents in 39 schools completing an anonymous questionnaire as part of the Child and Adolescent Self-harm in Europe (CASE) study. There was an equal gender balance and 53.1% of students were 16 years old. Information was obtained on history of self-harm life events, and demographic, psychological and life-style factors. RESULTS: Based on multivariate analyses, important factors associated with DSH among both genders were drug use and knowing a friend who had engaged in self-harm. Among girls, poor self-esteem, forced sexual activity, self-harm of a family member, fights with parents and problems with friendships also remained in the final model. For boys, experiencing bullying, problems with schoolwork, impulsivity and anxiety remained. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct profiles of boys and girls who engage in self-harm were identified. Associations between DSH and some life-style and life event factors suggest that mental health factors are not the sole indicators of risk of self-harm. The importance of school-related risk factors underlines the need to develop gender-specific initiatives in schools to reduce the prevalence of self-harm.

Adverse childhood experiences and lifetime suicide ideation: a cross-sectional study in a non-psychiatric hospital setting.

We have assessed the effect of adverse childhood experiences on the lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation in a cross-sectional study involving 182 patients aged 18 to 44 years, consecutive attenders at an A&E review clinic. All participants were interviewed by a psychologist using standardised questionnaire instruments addressing participants' demographic characteristics, drug use, depressed mood, eight major categories of adverse childhood experiences (including physical, emotional and sexual abuse) and suicide ideation. The response rate was 73%. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, those with a history of two or more forms of childhood adversity relative to those with none were at increased risk of depressed mood (OR = 5.5, 95% CI = 2.3-13.3) and suicide ideation (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.5-8.3). The findings emphasise the need to set suicide prevention within the broader context of society's obligation to protect children from physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

Parasuicide and suicide in the south-west of Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Suicidal behaviour has become recognised as a major public health problem. AIM: To examine hospital-treated parasuicide and suicide in the Southern and Mid-Western Health Boards. METHODS: Parasuicide data were derived from independent data collection in general and psychiatric hospitals and prisons between 1995 and 1997. The corresponding suicide data were obtained electronically from the Central Statistics Office. RESULTS: Respectively, the annual person-based male, female and total European age-standardised rates were 128.9, 154.3 and 141.3 per 100,000 for parasuicide compared to 22.7, 5.5 and 14.1 per 100,000 for suicide. The parasuicide/suicide ratio varied markedly by age, gender, area and marital status. The majority of suicides were by hanging or drowning whereas drug overdose made up the vast majority of parasuicide acts. Parasuicide was largely a city phenomenon confined to the young of both genders whereas suicide was a significant problem for city and county men, especially young adult men. CONCLUSION: There are striking differences between the patterns of fatal and non-fatal suicidal behaviour in Ireland, which should be considered in prevention initiatives.

Religious sanctions and rates of suicide worldwide.

In order to understand differences in suicide rates between the countries affiliated to the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), the present paper investigates whether there is a relationship between the existence of religious sanctions and aggregate national suicide rates as reported to the World Health Organization. Through their participation in this study, 49 IASP national representatives reported on the existence of religious sanctions against suicide. It was discovered that countries with religious sanctions were less likely to return rates of suicide to the WHO. Comparative analysis revealed that the average reported rates for countries with sanctions are lower than those for countries without religious sanctions. The difference is particularly significant for females. Overall, then, at an aggregate level, it would appear that an inverse relationship does exist; however, while countries with religious sanctions against suicide return lower rates of suicide, as recorded by the WHO, recording and reporting procedures may be affected by the existence of sanctions, thus diminishing the reliability of reported rates. Furthermore, distinctions between rates among the different denominations seem to have been somewhat blurred, in particular between Catholics and Protestants, to the extent that in certain societies Catholics have a higher reported rate of suicide--despite the fact that, doctrinally, Catholicism is more severe in the condemnation of suicide than the majority of Protestant churches (with a few notable exceptions, such as the Orthodox Calvinists).

Variation in suicide rates between Health Board areas.

This paper examines variations in suicide in the eight Health Boards of the Republic of Ireland for the years 1976 to 1995. It is found that while all have experienced a rise in male suicide, it has been much less pronounced in the Eastern Health Board which is somewhat surprising when one considers Dublin's much-publicised problems with homelessness and hard drug misuse. Since the mid-eighties, female rates have been somewhat higher in the southern half of the country, comprising the Southern, Mid-Western and South-Eastern Health Boards. This variation may reflect a difficulty with contacting services for psychological distress in rural areas, either because of stigma or simple practical problems associated with transport. The development of appropriate services, especially in rural areas, should be at the top of the agenda of any Resource Officer to be appointed subsequent to the Final Report of the Task Force.

Euthanasia and related practices worldwide.

The present paper examines the occurrence of matters relating to the ending of life, including active euthanasia, which is, technically speaking, illegal worldwide. Interest in this most controversial area is drawn from many varied sources, from legal and medical practitioners to religious and moral ethicists. In some countries, public interest has been mobilized into organizations that attempt to influence legislation relating to euthanasia. Despite the obvious international importance of euthanasia, very little is known about the extent of its practice, whether passive or active, voluntary or involuntary. This examination is based on questionnaires completed by 49 national representatives of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), dealing with legal and religious aspects of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, as well as suicide. A dichotomy between the law and medical practices relating to the end of life was uncovered by the results of the survey. In 12 of the 49 countries active euthanasia is said to occur while a general acceptance of passive euthanasia was reported to be widespread. Clearly, definition is crucial in making the distinction between active and passive euthanasia; otherwise, the entire concept may become distorted, and legal acceptance may become more widespread with the effect of broadening the category of individuals to whom euthanasia becomes an available option. The "slippery slope" argument is briefly considered.

Parasuicide and general practice: a pilot study.

General Practitioners from Cork City and its environs were sent a questionnaire regarding their experience of parasuicide in the previous twelve months. Replies were received from 133 of the 185 GPs. 189 individuals, accounting for 212 episodes of parasuicide, were seen by 78 doctors, indicating a lower level of repetition than that found in hospital-referred cases. Almost a third of doctors saw no cases, just over one fifth saw one episode and the same proportion dealt with two. A small number of general practitioners saw many cases. Regarding management, 128 (60%) were referred to Casualty, 31 of whom were also referred for psychiatric care. Thirty percent were referred directly for psychiatric care. While only fourteen were retained within general practice without referral, 40% of the GPs felt that, ideally, acts of parasuicide should be retained with more specialised advice being obtained. Furthermore, 88.1% believed that management of parasuicide should form part of an integral part of post-graduate or continued general practitioner medical training. Clearly, GPs are willing to play a more active role in the management of parasuicide.

Elderly suicides in Ireland.

A comparison is made between the male and female Irish suicide rates for the young (15-24 year-olds) and the old (over 65 years). The incidence of suicide among the elderly has traditionally been higher than among the young. While this continues to be the case for females the rates for young and old have recently converged. Within the over 65 year-old age group itself, a further comparison was made between the suicide rates of the 'young' old and 'old' old. In general, suicide is significantly more common in the 'young' old age group. The method of suicide employed by the elderly was then analysed. As expected hanging, drowning and poisoning were most common although the extent to which they were used differed for males and females. Twelve elderly suicides were examined as part of an on-going psychological autopsy study of Cork suicides. Information relating to their domestic, marital and psychological situation is discussed. Given these findings and those relating to method of suicide, the subject of suicide prevention in the elderly is discussed.

The service implications of regional differences in suicide rates in the Republic of Ireland.

This paper examines variations in suicide within the Republic of Ireland in order to determine if the services, as currently available, require redistribution. The rates of suicide and undetermined death in the four provinces, 26 counties and five cities of Ireland are examined for the years 1976 to 1994, with the age and gender distributions of local populations taken into consideration. Marked variations between areas are noted with a threefold difference between the counties with the highest and lowest rates. Counties tend to be similarly ranked for men and women but the male suicide rate, overall, was almost three times that for women. The male:female ratio was 2.3:1 for the first half of the study, but this increased to 3.4:1 for the second half; a reflection of increasing numbers of male suicides. Surprisingly, the male suicide rate in Dublin city has stayed steady at 12 per 100,000 over the entire study period, while the national male rate has more than doubled reaching approximately 18 per 100,000 in recent years. There is a need for improved services in rural Ireland. If the various available services are to help reduce the suicide rate, then a mechanism must be found to deliver these in areas of low population density where the need could well be greatest.

Improving procedures for recording suicide statistics.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changing relationship between rates of suicide and undetermined death in Britain and Ireland. DESIGN: Longitudinal analysis of the official statistics relating to unnatural deaths in England and Wales and the Republic of Ireland between 1976 and 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Male and female rates of suicide and undetermined deaths for Ireland and England and Wales, age adjusted to the standard world population. Ratio of undetermined deaths to suicide. RESULTS: The official Irish male suicide rate is now much higher than that of England and Wales while the female rates are broadly similar. The rate of undetermined deaths has risen amongst English males and remained stable for females but has significantly fallen off among both Irish males and females. The proportion of deaths classified as 'undetermined' is now very much less in Ireland than in England and Wales. DISCUSSION: National plans for suicide prevention in either country cannot be properly audited unless improved procedures are put in place to increase the validity and reliability of the official suicide figures. Each country could beneficially learn from the other in this regard.