Displaying all 18 publications

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Lai MH, Maniam T, Chan LF, Ravindran AV
    J Med Internet Res, 2014;16(1):e30.
    PMID: 24472876 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2973
    Suicide is a serious and increasing problem worldwide. The emergence of the digital world has had a tremendous impact on people's lives, both negative and positive, including an impact on suicidal behaviors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  2. Talib MA, Abdollahi A
    J Relig Health, 2017 Jun;56(3):784-795.
    PMID: 26429729 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-015-0133-3
    Suicide is an important public health problem for adolescents, and it is essential to increase our knowledge concerning the etiology of suicide among adolescent students. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the associations between hopelessness, depression, spirituality, and suicidal behavior, and to examine spirituality as a moderator between hopelessness, depression, and suicidal behavior among 1376 Malaysian adolescent students. The participants completed measures of depression, hopelessness, daily spiritual experience, and suicidal behavior. Structural equation modeling indicated that adolescent students high in hopelessness and depression, but also high in spirituality, had less suicidal behavior than others. These findings reinforce the importance of spirituality as a protective factor against hopelessness, depression, and suicidal behavior among Malaysian adolescent students.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  3. Abdollahi A, Talib MA, Yaacob SN, Ismail Z
    PLoS One, 2015;10(4):e0122222.
    PMID: 25830229 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122222
    Recent evidence suggests that suicidal ideation is increased among university students, it is essential to increase our knowledge concerning the etiology of suicidal ideation among university students. This study was conducted to examine the relationships between problem-solving skills appraisal, hardiness, and suicidal ideation among university students. In addition, this study was conducted to examine problem-solving skills appraisal (including the three components of problem-solving confidence, approach-avoidance style, and personal control of emotion) as a potential mediator between hardiness and suicidal ideation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  4. Teoh CL, Woon TH, Sim SH
    Med J Malaysia, 1973 Dec;28(2):80-3.
    PMID: 4276264
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control
  5. Lew B, Chistopolskaya K, Osman A, Huen JMY, Abu Talib M, Leung ANM
    BMC Psychiatry, 2020 02 18;20(1):73.
    PMID: 32070298 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02485-4
    BACKGROUND: A substantial increase in rates of suicide worldwide, especially among late adolescents and young adults, has been observed. It is important to identify specific risk and protective factors for suicide-related behaviors among late adolescents and young adults. Identifying specific factors across the masses, not only in the Western, but also in the Asian context, helps researchers develop empirically informed intervention methods for the management of protective and risk factors of suicide.

    METHODS: In the current study, 2074 students (706 males), filled out the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, with subscales of Search for Meaning (MLQ-S) and Presence of Meaning (MLQ-P); the Future Disposition Inventory-24 (FDI-24), with subscales of Positive Focus (PF), Suicide Orientation (SO), and Negative Focus (NF); and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). These scales measure protective and risk factors that are linked to suicidal behaviors; while suicidal behaviors were measured by the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). Mediation analyses were performed to test the models with both the MLQ-S and MLQ-P as the mediators between a) hopelessness, as measured by BHS and suicidal behaviors; and b) PF, SO, and NF, as measured by FDI-24, and suicidal behaviors.

    RESULTS: We found that only MLQ-P mediated the relation between hopelessness and suicidal behaviors; while both MLQ-P and MLQ-S mediated PF, SO, and NF (as measured by FDI-24), and suicidal behaviors, respectively.

    CONCLUSION: Meaning in life, including both the presence of meaning in life and search for meaning, can be good protective factors against suicidal behaviors.

    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  6. Siau CS, Wee LH, Ibrahim N, Visvalingam U, Wahab S
    Inquiry, 2017 01 01;54:46958017707295.
    PMID: 28486042 DOI: 10.1177/0046958017707295
    Understanding attitudes toward suicide, especially among healthcare personnel, is an important step in both suicide prevention and treatment. We document the adaptation process and establish the validity and reliability of the Attitudes Toward Suicide (ATTS) questionnaire among 262 healthcare personnel in 2 major public hospitals in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The findings indicate that healthcare personnel in Malaysia have unique constructs on suicide attitude, compared with the original study on a Western European sample. The adapted Malay ATTS questionnaire demonstrates adequate reliability and validity for use among healthcare personnel in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  7. Vijayakumar L, John S
    Int J Soc Psychiatry, 2018 08;64(5):443-449.
    PMID: 29783869 DOI: 10.1177/0020764018777523
    BACKGROUND: Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world and has over 1.1 billion adherents comprising about 16% of the global population living mainly in India and Nepal. The stand of Hinduism on suicide has been ambiguous through the ages, on one hand, condemning general suicides, while condoning religious suicides on the other. This ambiguity is reflected in contemporary India and among the Indian diaspora.

    AIMS: To examine the stand of Hinduism as a religion in the context of suicide.

    METHOD: A selected review of literature covering the major Hindu religious texts, cultural practices and suicide.

    RESULTS: People who follow Hinduism have a suicide rate of about 21 per 100,000 population compared to the global average of 11.4. Hindu countries have higher rates of suicide compared to Islamic and Christian countries, but these rates are lower when compared to Atheist and Buddhist countries. This is reflected in the Indian diaspora as well with reports from Fiji, the Caribbean, Malaysia and the United Kingdom, indicating that suicide was disproportionately high among those of Indian origin. However, a strong faith in Hinduism acts as protective factor. The Hindu belief in karma fosters a sense of acceptance of the vicissitudes of life with equanimity, and the belief in the cycle of births and deaths renders suicide meaningless, as one's soul continues after death. Their religious beliefs makes the Hindus tolerate and accept hardships and calamities stoically.

    CONCLUSION: In certain situations, the Hindu religion acts as a protective factor, whereas at other times, it may increase the risk of suicide. It is important to understand these different nuances in the Hindu religion in formulating a culturally appropriate suicide prevention strategy.

    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  8. Amit N, Ibrahim N, Aga Mohd Jaladin R, Che Din N
    Med J Malaysia, 2017 10;72(5):291-297.
    PMID: 29197885 MyJurnal
    INTRODUCTION: This research examined the predicting roles of reasons for living and social support on depression, anxiety and stress in Malaysia.

    METHOD: This research was carried out on a sample of 263 participants (age range 12-24 years old), from Klang Valley, Selangor. The survey package comprises demographic information, a measure of reasons for living, social support, depression, anxiety and stress. To analyse the data, correlation analysis and a series of linear multiple regression analysis were carried out.

    RESULTS: Findings showed that there were low negative relationships between all subdomains and the total score of reasons for living and depression. There were also low negative relationships between domain-specific of social support (family and friends) and total social support and depression. In terms of the family alliance, self-acceptance and total score of reasons for living, they were negatively associated with anxiety, whereas family social support was negatively associated with stress. The linear regression analysis showed that only future optimism and family social support found to be the significant predictors for depression. Family alliance and total reasons for living were significant in predicting anxiety, whereas family social support was significant in predicting stress.

    CONCLUSION: These findings have the potential to promote awareness related to depression, anxiety, and stress among youth in Malaysia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  9. Ng CW, How CH, Ng YP
    Singapore Med J, 2016 Nov;57(11):591-597.
    PMID: 27872937 DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2016174
    Major depression is a common condition seen in the primary care setting, often presenting with somatic symptoms. It is potentially a chronic illness with considerable morbidity, and a high rate of relapse and recurrence. Major depression has a bidirectional relationship with chronic diseases, and a strong association with increased age and coexisting mental illnesses (e.g. anxiety disorders). Screening can be performed using clinical tools for major depression, such as the Patient Health Questionaire-2, Patient Health Questionaire-9 and Beck Depression Inventory, so that timely treatment can be initiated. An accurate diagnosis of major depression and its severity is essential for prompt treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality. This is the first of a series of articles that illustrates the approach to the management of major depression in primary care. Our next articles will cover suicide risk assessment in a depressed patient and outline the basic principles of management and treatment modalities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control
  10. Ng CW, How CH, Ng YP
    Singapore Med J, 2017 Feb;58(2):72-77.
    PMID: 28210741 DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2017006
    Major depression is a common condition seen in the primary care setting. This article describes the suicide risk assessment of a depressed patient, including practical aspects of history-taking, consideration of factors in deciding if a patient requires immediate transfer for inpatient care and measures to be taken if the patient is not hospitalised. It follows on our earlier article about the approach to management of depression in primary care.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  11. Maniam T, Chinna K, Lim CH, Kadir AB, Nurashikin I, Salina AA, et al.
    Prev Med, 2013;57 Suppl:S45-6.
    PMID: 23454536 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.02.022
    The aim of this paper is to identify at-risk groups for a focused suicide prevention program for Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  12. Kongjareon Y, Samoh N, Lim SH, Peerawaranun P, Jonas KJ, Guadamuz TE
    AIDS Care, 2020 08;32(8):954-958.
    PMID: 32160793 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2020.1734174
    HIV-related factors and suicide-risk status were assessed among YMSM aged 18-24 years recruited through various MSM-related online social apps in Bangkok (N = 1394). The online survey assessed demographic characteristics, sexual behaviours and suicide-risk status. Measure of suicide risk was taken from the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (cut-off score of seven or higher). Among participants, 249 (17.9%) reported suicide-risk. In multivariable logistic regression, correlates of suicide-risk status included having sometimes or often ever participated in group sex (AOR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.17-2.14), having received money or opportunities for sex (AOR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.09-2.17), often seeking partners online (AOR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.05-2.39), inconsistent condom use (AOR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.26-2.21), and self-assessed as having "medium" or "high" HIV risk (AOR=2.53, 95% CI: 1.61-3.98 and AOR=3.35, 95% CI: 1.92-5.82, respectively). Findings suggest that HIV risk behaviours shown by YMSM are significantly associated with higher risk of suicide.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  13. Siau CS, Wee LH, Ibrahim N, Visvalingam U, Yeap LLL, Wahab S
    J Contin Educ Health Prof, 2018;38(4):227-234.
    PMID: 30036213 DOI: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000213
    INTRODUCTION: There is a lack of suicide-related training in the nonpsychiatric health professional's basic education. We suggest that a continuing education through a brief gatekeeper suicide training program could be a suitable platform to improve suicide-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes. This study aimed at examining the effectiveness of the Question, Persuade, Refer gatekeeper program on improving the knowledge, self-efficacy in suicide prevention, and understanding of/willingness to help suicidal patients of Malaysian hospital health professionals.

    METHODS: The Question, Persuade, Refer program materials were translated and adapted for implementation in the hospital setting for nonpsychiatric health professionals. There were 159 (mean age = 35.75 years; SD = 12.26) participants in this study. Most participants were female (84.9%), staff/community nurses (52.2%), who worked in the general medical department (30.2%) and had no experience managing suicidal patients (64.2%). Intervention participants (n = 53) completed a survey questionnaire at pretraining, immediately after training, and after three months. Control participants (n = 106) were not exposed to the training program and completed the same questionnaire at baseline and three months later.

    RESULTS: Significant improvement occurred among intervention participants in terms of perceived knowledge, self-efficacy, and understanding of/willingness to help suicidal patients immediately after training and when compared with the control participants 3 months later. Improvements in declarative knowledge were not maintained at the 3-month follow-up.

    DISCUSSION: This study confirmed the short-term effectiveness of the gatekeeper training program. Gatekeeper suicide training is recommended for implementation for nonpsychiatric health professionals nationwide.

    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  14. Siau CS, Wee LH, Yacob S, Yeoh SH, Binti Adnan TH, Haniff J, et al.
    Acad Psychiatry, 2017 Aug;41(4):503-509.
    PMID: 28168406 DOI: 10.1007/s40596-017-0661-0
    OBJECTIVES: This research is aimed to examine the attitude of health-care workers toward suicidal patients in Malaysian hospitals, comparing responses from psychiatric and non-psychiatric workers, and to identify specific needs in suicide prevention and management training.

    METHOD: This is a multi-site cross-sectional study. The authors conducted a survey based on a translated self-administered questionnaire to participants from seven core hospital departments.

    RESULTS: While most health-care workers regardless of department and specialty took their duty to prevent suicide seriously, a large majority of them expressed negative attitudes such as finding suicidal behavior irritating, and more than half believed suicidal attempts were a way of making others sorry. However, psychiatric workers were less likely to have judgmental attitudes that included believing suicide attempters as being selfish or trying to get sympathy from others.

    CONCLUSIONS: As there were more similarities than differences in health-care workers' attitudes toward suicide, recommendations on basic and continuous suicide prevention and management training among hospital workers were made. The interventions focused on improving knowledge, affective, and skill-based areas that were aimed to correct the wrongful understanding of and to minimize the negative attitudes toward suicidal individuals indicated by the study results.

    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  15. Jaafar NR, Daud TI, Rahman FN, Baharudin A
    Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 2007 Sep;41(9):768-9.
    PMID: 17687663
    To report the use of Mirtazapine in the treatment of anorexia nervosa with depression primarily regarding its propensity for weight gain.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control
  16. Foo XY, Alwi MN, Ismail SI, Ibrahim N, Osman ZJ
    J Relig Health, 2014 Jun;53(3):731-46.
    PMID: 23196328 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-012-9667-9
    The variation in suicide patterns across ethnic groups with different religious background is a puzzling social phenomenon. This study sought to examine the impact of religious commitment and attitudes toward suicide on suicidal behaviors of college students across major ethnic and religious groups in a multicultural society of Malaysia. A total of 139 college students completed Religious Commitment Inventory-10, Attitudes Toward Suicide Scale, and Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. Findings showed significant discrepancies in attitudes toward suicide, but not suicidal behaviors across ethnic and religious groups. Suicide acceptance significantly affected suicidal behaviors as well. Although religious commitment is not associated with suicidal behaviors, its deviation is reflected in students' acceptance of suicide. Additionally, college students' suicide risk, lifetime, and recent suicide ideation, as well as their likelihood of future suicide attempt can be associated with their acceptance of suicide. The influence of attitudes toward suicide and religion, therefore, should be taken into consideration while implementing suicide prevention programs as it helps shape the norms about suicide among youths.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control
  17. Lew B, Kõlves K, Osman A, Abu Talib M, Ibrahim N, Siau CS, et al.
    PLoS One, 2020;15(8):e0237329.
    PMID: 32822365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237329
    BACKGROUND: Although the suicide rate in China has decreased over the past 20 years, there have been reports that the younger age group has been experiencing an increased incidence of completed suicide. Given that undergraduate groups are at higher risks of suicidality, it is important to monitor and screen for risk factors for suicidal ideation and behaviors to ensure their well-being.

    OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk and protective factors contributing to suicidality among undergraduate college students in seven provinces in China.

    METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 13,387 college students from seven universities in Ningxia, Shandong, Shanghai, Jilin, Qinghai, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires.

    RESULTS: Higher scores in the psychological strain, depression, anxiety, stress, and psychache (psychological risk factors for suicidality) and lower scores in self-esteem and purpose in life (psychological protective factors against suicidality) were associated with increased suicidality among undergraduate students in China. Demographic factors which were associated with higher risks of suicidality were female gender, younger age, bad academic results, were an only child, non-participation in school associations, and had an urban household registration. Perceived good health was protective against suicidality.

    CONCLUSIONS: Knowing the common risk and protective factors for suicidality among Chinese undergraduate students is useful in developing interventions targeted at this population and to guide public health policies on suicide in China.

    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control*
  18. Lew B, Huen J, Yu P, Yuan L, Wang DF, Ping F, et al.
    PLoS One, 2019;14(7):e0217372.
    PMID: 31260454 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217372
    Suicide is a major public health concern worldwide. This study aimed to predict the suicidal behavior of Chinese university students by studying psychological measures such as hopelessness, orientation to happiness, meaning in life, depression, anxiety, stress, and coping styles. In November 2016, a stratified-clustered-random sampling approach was utilized to select subjects from two large public medical-related universities in Shandong province, China. This sample consisted of 2,074 undergraduate students (706 males, 1,368 females; mean age = 19.79±1.39 years). The students' major risk factors for suicide were depression, anxiety, stress, and hopelessness, and the students' minor risk factors included orientation to happiness and coping styles (including self-distraction, self-blame and substance use). Notably, the presence of meaning in life had a positive effect on preventing suicide and acted as a protective factor, which suggests that it is important to identify risk factors as well as protective factors relevant to the target population group in order to increase the effectiveness of counseling and suicide prevention programs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide/prevention & control
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links