• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.51-60
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to derive the residential environment design elements that affect suicide, and then analyze the actual situation in terms of suicide prevention and suggest implications. Methods: The study was conducted through literature analysis, field surveys, and interviews with stakeholders. Results: As a result of extracting the variables related to the residential environment that affect suicide suggested in a total of 18 papers, 15 variables were extracted and organized into major categories such as housing type, health and welfare facilities, leisure and cultural facilities, and living environment. Next, we selected a public rental housing complex with a relatively high suicide rate among multi-family housing as the case, and conducted a empirical analysis. It was investigated that the facilities were insufficient, and apart from the quantitative satisfaction of the rest, various problems were exposed, such as the classification of users according to age and insufficient management in terms of the actual use of residents including suicide attempters. Implications: First, it is necessary to search for the design direction of the residential environment for suicide prevention. Second, it is necessary to find a way to solve the exclusion phenomenon that appears in space and programs. Third, when planning a space for suicide prevention, understanding of the behavior of high-risk groups should be reflected.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.473-484
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relations among appropriateness of work, competency on student suicide and attitude toward suicide in health teachers. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive one. The subjects were 193 health teachers. Self-administered questionnaires were used to measure the variables of this study. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression with SAS 9.3 software were used for the data analysis. Results: The attitude score toward suicide ranged from 1.47 to -1.03. The average score of appropriateness of work and competency related to student suicide were 2.34 and 2.81 respectively. Associated factors with competency related to student suicide among health teacher were appropriateness of work related to student suicide, two items of attitude toward suicide(suicide is an acceptable means to end an incurable illness and people who commit suicide are usually mentally ill), education level, education experience on suicide prevention and management, and the adjusted $R^2$ of the regression model was 34.3%. Conclusion: Health teachers were not tolerable to student suicide. However, they evaluated themselves as low in the appropriateness and competency to the work on student suicide, especially in screening and counselling of high risk groups. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary to develop education programs about counseling and intervention on student suicide for health teachers.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.72-78
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• 2018

Objectives The high suicide rate has risen as a main concern in South Korea. Given the complexity of the mechanism resulting in complete suicide, studies targeting various populations are needed for broader understanding of its risk factors. This study aims to analyze the factors affecting the suicidal tendency in the population of the elderly living alone in Seoul depending on basic elderly-care services. Methods A total number of 415 people participated in the study. Home-visit interviews were administered by trained interviewers. Suicidal tendency was measured by the Korean version of mini international neuropsychiatric interview (K-MINI). Health-related quality of life was measured by a brief version of the World Health Organization Quality-of-life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF). Alcohol problem was assessed by the Korean version of the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT-K). Among total subjects of 415 interviewees, the actual responses of 408 people were used for the final analysis. Results The result showed that the suicide risk was high in persons isolated from social support [odds ratio (OR) = 4.49], having depression (OR = 14.85), and having low quality of life (OR = 4.39). Conclusions We found that social support, depression and health-related quality of life are associated with suicidal tendency in the elderly living alone on basic services. Our evidence will contribute to suicide prevention policy for the elderly living alone on care services.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.7-18
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• 2023

Purpose: This study conducted a systematic literature review to analyze the factors related to suicidal ideation among firefighters. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify factors influencing suicidal ideation among firefighters, using Korean academic information search services from January to June 2022. A total of 238 articles were searched using keywords such as "firefighter," "depression," "post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)," "cognitive emotion regulation," "suicide," and "suicidal ideation." Among them, nine articles were selected for analysis using descriptive correlation studies. Results: It was found that the relationship between firefighter stress (PTSD) and suicidal thoughts was mediated by depression. Even if the stress level (PTSD) was high, suicidal thoughts decreased when the emotional coping level was high. Conclusion: To prevent firefighters from committing suicide, intervention programs with effective approaches to quickly identify high at-risk people and improve their emotional coping skills, should be implemented.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.436-443
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• 2022

Objectives: Previous studies have reported that self-neglect, which may be a sign of elder abuse, can result in suicide among older adults. The signs of self-neglect and its impact on the risk of suicide may differ by gender. Thus, this study explored the association between self-neglect and suicide risk in older Korean adults and examined the potential moderating effect of gender on this relationship. Methods: Data were collected from 356 Korean adults aged 65 or older through an online survey. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the research hypothesis. First, the associations between 4 sub-dimensions of self-neglect (i.e., daily life management issues, personal hygiene issues, financial management issues, and relational issues) and suicidal ideation were examined. Then, the moderating effect of gender on these relationships was investigated by including interaction terms. Results: Self-neglect was significantly associated with suicidal ideation in older adults. Aspects of self-neglect related to daily life management and relational factors were key predictors of suicidal ideation. Gender significantly moderated the effect of the relational dimension of self-neglect on suicidal ideation. The relational dimension of self-neglect was more strongly associated with suicidal ideation in older women than in older men. Conclusions: The findings suggest the importance of screening older adults with signs of self-neglect for suicide risk. Special attention should be paid to older women who experience relational issues as a high-risk group for suicidal ideation. Public programs and support systems should be established to improve daily life management and promote social relationships among older adults.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.325-334
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• 2015

Elderly suicide rates tend to be high in Korea. Suicide by the elderly is no longer a personal problem; consequently, further research on risk and regional factors is necessary. Disease mapping in epidemiology estimates spatial patterns for disease risk over a geographical region. In this study, we use a simultaneous conditional autoregressive model for spatial correlations between neighboring areas to estimate standard mortality ratios and mapping. The method is illustrated with cause of death data from 2006 and 2010 to analyze regional patterns of elderly suicide in Korea. By considering spatial correlations, the Bayesian spatial models, mean educational attainment and percentage of the elderly who live alone was the significant regional characteristic for elderly suicide. Gibbs sampling and grid method are used for computation.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.139-155
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• 2006

Over the past two decades suicide terrorism has become an ever-widening phenomenon. When suicide terrorism was first introduced in the Middle East it seemed that this new phenomenon was invincible and that it might change the innate imbalance between terror groups and their rivalry governments. This did not in fact occur. Looking at history of terrorism, it can be seen that suicide attacks are in actuality a very old modus operandi. However, contemporary suicide terrorism differs from such historical tactics, just as the whole phenomenon of terrorism differs from ancient modes of warfare. Modern suicide terrorism is aimed at causing devastating physical damage. through which it inflicts profound fear and anxiety. Its goal is to produce a negative psychological effect on an entire population rather than just the victims of the actual attack. The relatively high number of casualties guaranteed in such attacks, which are usually carried out in crowded areas, ensures full media coverage. Thus, suicide terrorism, ranks with other spectacular modus operandi such as blowing up airplanes in mid air or the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction as a sure means to win maximum effect. For the purposes of this paper a suicide terror attack is defined as a politically motivated violent attack perpetrated by a self-aware individual (or individuals) who actively and purposely causes his own death through blowing himself up along with his chosen target. The perpetrator's ensured death is a precondition for the success of his mission. The greatest potential risk suicide terrorism may pose in future is if terrorists carry out operations combined with other spectacular tactics such as blowing up airplanes or the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Such a combination will increase immensely the death toll of a single terror attack and will have a shocking psychological effect on public moral. At this level suicide terrorism would constitute a genuine strategic threat and would probably be confronted as such. This study portrays a general overview of the modern history of suicide terror activity worldwide, focusing on its main characteristics and the various aims and motivations of the terror groups involved. In addition, This study provides an overview what is to be done to prevent such terrorist attacks.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.327-335
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• 2014

Objectives: Several epidemiological studies on medical care utilization prior to suicide have considered the motivation of suicide, but focused on the influence of physical illnesses. Medical care expenditure in suicide completers with non-illness-related causes has not been investigated. Methods: Suicides motivated by non-illness-related factors were identified using the investigator's note from the National Police Agency, which was then linked to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment data. We investigated the medical care expenditures of cases one year prior to committing suicide and conducted a case-control study using conditional logistic regression analysis after adjusting for age, gender, area of residence, and socioeconomic status. Results: Among the 4515 suicides motivated by non-illness-related causes, medical care expenditures increased in only the last 3 months prior to suicide in the adolescent group. In the younger group, the proportion of total medical expenditure for external injuries was higher than that in the older groups. Conditional logistic regression analysis showed significant associations with being a suicide completer and having a rural residence, low socioeconomic status, and high medical care expenditure. After stratification into the four age groups, a significant positive association with medical care expenditures and being a suicide completer was found in the adolescent and young adult groups, but no significant results were found in the elderly groups for both men and women. Conclusions: Younger adults who committed suicide motivated by non-illness-related causes had a higher proportion of external injuries and more medical care expenditures than their controls did. This reinforces the notion that suicide prevention strategies for young people with suicidal risk factors are needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2018

Purpose: The Korean government has tried to decrease the suicide death rate over the last decade. Suicide attempts, particularly non-fatal attempts, are the most powerful known risk factor for a completed suicide. An analysis of suicide attempt methods will help establish the effective preventive action of suicide. Fit prevention according to the method of suicide attempt may decrease the incidence of suicide death. Self-poisoning is suggested as a major method of both suicide attempts and suicide death. The aim of this study was to determine if a self-poisoning patient is a suitable target for the prevention of the suicide. Methods: This was retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort, which included patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) after a self-harm or suicide attempt from Jan 2013 to Dec 2017. The proportion of methods in suicide attempts, psychological consultation, and fatality according to the suicide attempt method were analyzed. The types of poison were also analyzed. Results: Poisoning was the most common method of suicide attempts (52.1%). The rate of psychological consultations were 18.8% for all patients and 29.1% for poison patients (p<0.001). The rate of mortality in poisoning was 0.6%. Psychological consultation was performed more frequently in admission cases than discharged cases. The most common materials of poisons was psychological medicines and sedatives that had been prescribed at clinics or hospital. Conclusion: Self-poisoning is a major method of suicide attempt with a high rate of psychiatric consultation, low mortality rate, versus others methods. The prevention of suicide death for suicide attempts may focus on self-poisoning, which is the major method of suicide attempts. A suitable aftercare program for self-poisoning may be an effective method for preventing suicide if an early diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders through psychiatric consultation can be made, and early connection to social prevention program for non-fatal patients are possible.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.88-98
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to establish a school-based mental health intervention. The success of which was indexed by its effects on the social anxiety symptoms of the enrolled adolescents. Methods : This program for promoting mental health among adolescents in the community was adopted by three middle schools that volunteered to participate in the project. The program included screening for emotional problems related to social anxiety, depression, suicide, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Case management was provided for groups considered high-risk for depression, suicide, or post-traumatic stress disorder; cognitive-behavior therapy was provided for those at high-risk of developing social anxiety. Additionally, educational programs for the prevention of suicide, a "loving life" module, and mental health promotional campaigns were also included. In total, 1,100 middle school students completed self-report questionnaires. Twenty-five students in the high-risk group for social anxiety participated in a cognitive-behavior therapy program, comprising eight sessions, and conducted by two clinical psychologists. Results : Following the suicide prevention education program, suicide awareness among students increased and coping strategies were improved. In addition, the loving life program was associated with positive self-perceptions by many students. Furthermore, social anxiety symptoms showed a statistically significant difference after the cognitive-behavior therapy program. After the therapy, not only did social anxiety symptoms improve, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation decreased significantly, while self-esteem and psychological resilience significantly increased. Conclusion : A school-based mental health intervention was successfully implemented in three middle schools and improved the mental health of the participating students. Therefore, this intervention could be widely implemented to promote positive mental health among middle school students.