A Preliminary Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experience Regarding Suicidal Behavior among Mental Health Workers in Korea

Hye-Jin Kim; Jun-Won Hwang; Jin Hyeong Jhoo; Haak-Seon Kim; Semi Hwang; Kanguk Lee

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.3.338

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.54(3) > 1017750

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Kim, Hwang, Jhoo, Kim, Hwang, and Lee: A Preliminary Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experience Regarding Suicidal Behavior among Mental Health Workers in Korea

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015; 54(3): 338-349.

Published online: 21 August 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.3.338

A Preliminary Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experience Regarding Suicidal Behavior among Mental Health Workers in Korea

Hye-Jin Kim, MD¹, Jun-Won Hwang, MD, PhD², Jin Hyeong Jhoo, MD, PhD², Haak-Seon Kim, BA³, Semi Hwang, BA³, Kanguk Lee, MD, PhD^2,³

¹Department of Psychiatry, National Chuncheon Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.

²Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.

³Gangwon Provincial Mental Health Center, Chuncheon, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Kanguk Lee, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, 156 Baengnyeong-ro, Chuncheon 24289, Korea. Tel +82-33-258-2310, Fax +82-33-258-2146, kuleemd@kangwon.ac.kr

Received 26 May 2015 Revised 12 June 2015 Accepted 24 June 2015

Abstract

Objectives

This study was conducted to investigate knowledge, attitude, and experience regarding suicidal behavior among mental health workers in Gangwon province of Korea to use as a basis for development of suicide prevention and education programs.

Methods

Questionnaires consisted of 31 questions including general knowledge regarding suicide statistics and suicide related legislation, attitude toward suicide, awareness of suicide, and individual experiences of suicidal behaviors. Chi-square and binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine differences and association among attitude toward suicide, individual experience of suicide, and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

Taboo attitude toward suicide showed association with age and male. Males thought that social responsibility for suicide is necessary. Religiously non-affiliated group and people who had previous suicidal ideation and attempts showed a more permissive attitude toward suicide.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that demographic characteristics and previous individual experience of suicidal behaviors might influence attitude toward suicide. These personal characteristics should be considered in development of suicide prevention programs for mental health workers.

Keywords: Mental health worker, Attitude toward suicide, Experience of suicidal behavior

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Sociodemographic characteristics of study subjects

SD : Standard deviation

Table 2

Comparison of attitude on suicide according to sex, age

Chi-square test. ^* : p<0.05, ^† : p<0.01, ^‡ : p<0.001. Y : Yes, N : No

Table 3

Comparison of attitude on suicide according to religion, office region, number of years working

Chi-square test. ^* : p<0.05, ^† : p<0.01, ^‡ : p<0.001. Y : Yes, N : No

Table 4

Attitude on suicide according to sociodemographic characteristics

Binary logistic regression analysis. ^* : p<0.05, ^† : p<0.01, ^‡ : p<0.001. S.E. : Standard error, OR : Odds ratio, CI : Confidence interval, R² : Nagelkerke R-square

Table 5

Association between individual experience of suicide and sociodemographic characteristics

Binary logistic regression analysis. ^* : p<0.05. S.E. : Standard error, OR : Odds ratio, CI : Confidence interval, R² : Nagelkerke R-square

Table 6

Comparison of attitude on suicide according to suicidal behavior, experience of friend or family death by suicide

Chi-square test. ^* : p<0.05, ^† : p<0.001. Y : Yes, N : No, OR : Odds ratio

Notes

^{Conflicts of Interest} The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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