Examining student perspectives on suicidal behaviour and its prevention in Sri Lanka.
BACKGROUND
Suicidal behaviour, primarily through self-poisoning, is a major public health problem among youth in Sri Lanka.


METHODS
This article describes a qualitative study of student perspectives on suicidal behaviour and its prevention. Focus groups were held with students 17-20 years of age. A discussion of the perceived causes of suicidal behaviour provided the context for discussing prevention efforts.


CONCLUSIONS
Participants identified pathways to suicidal behaviour and emphasized experiential aspects and the variability of fatal intent. Suggestions for prevention tended to emphasize the strengthening of community-oriented actions in order to better realize lethal means restrictions.
Ratnayake
Ruwan
R
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 1W8. rratnaya@jhsph.edu
Links
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011203:Poverty; D013188:Sri Lanka; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention