Examining Student Perspectives On Suicidal Behaviour and Its Prevention in Sri Lanka

Ruwan Ratnayake and Paul Links
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Paul Links: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Suite 2010, Shuter Wing, Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 1W8, rratnaya@jhsph.edu

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2009, vol. 55, issue 5, 387-400

Abstract: 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. Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: deliberate self-harm; self-poisoning; suicidal behaviour; Sri Lanka (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:55:y:2009:i:5:p:387-400

DOI: 10.1177/0020764008098699

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