J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc JKNA Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 1015-4817 2289-0963 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 10.4306/jknpa.2017.56.3.127 Original Article A Study on the Effectiveness of Adolescent's Suicide Prevention Program Lee Myung-Soo MD Yun Mi-Kyung PhD Kim Soon-Young MS Kim Hye-Jin BS Gyeonggi Provincial Center for Suicide Prevention, Suwon, Korea. Address for correspondence: Myung-Soo Lee, MD. Gyeonggi Provincial Center for Suicide Prevention, 69 Suseong-ro 245beon-gil, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16316, Korea. Tel +82-31-212-0437, Fax +82-31-250-0207, mslee1010@hanmail.net 08 2017 31 08 2017 56 3 127 134 26 04 2017 23 07 2017 30 07 2017 Copyright © 2017 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2017 Objectives

Though the youth suicide rate in Korea is similar to those in other OECD countries, it was the first cause of death among youths in Korea during the five years from 2009 to 2013. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a school based suicide prevention program for adolescents.

 Methods

A survey was conducted with 134 first grade students in middle school in Gyeonggi-do. The independent samples t-test was performed to detect differences in the suicide attitude between the experimental and control groups, and the levels of suicide prevention knowledge and activities were analyzed by χ2 (chi-squared) analysis.

 Results

The difference in the effectiveness of the suicide prevention program for adolescents on the suicide attitude between the control group (−1.12±2.08) and experimental group (1.24±4.51) turned out to be statistically significant (t=3.893, p<0.001). The experimental group was more likely to show a positive change than the control group. Moreover, since it raised the suicide prevention knowledge (χ2=6.041, p=0.049) and activities (χ2=16.284, p<0.001) compared to the control, it was confirmed that the suicide prevention program for adolescents would be very effective.

 Conclusion

The adolescent's suicide prevention program of Gyeonggi-do is considered to reinforce teenagers' values against suicide and bring about behavioral changes leading to effective suicide prevention. Further studies are needed for the evaluation and expansion of the long-term effects of the program.

 Adolescent Suicide prevention Education program

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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Fisher's exact test

 Differences of suicide attitude between the two groups (n=133)

SD : Standard deviation

 Differences of knowledge level and behavior level of suicidal prevention between the two groups Effectiveness test for suicidal attitude (n=133)

** : p<0.01, *** : p<0.001. SD : Standard deviation

 Change of positive knowledge level and behavior level of suicidal prevention for program

* : p<0.05, *** : p<0.001