Zalsman, G., Hawton, K., Wasserman, D., van Heeringen, K., Arensman, E., Sarchiapone, M., ... & Zohar, J. (2016). Suicide prevention strategies revisited: 10-year systematic review. The Lancet Psychiatry , 3 (7), 646-659. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30030-X
The authors and the researchers at the Lancet Psychiatry used meta-analysis and systematic reviews from 2005 to evaluate the effectiveness of suicide prevention intervention methods in adolescents. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological and psychosocial treatment, screening in primary care, gatekeeping training, internet and helpline support, restrictions from suicide hot-spots, and. The authors established that restricting the youth from accessing hot-spots areas known for committing suicides, such as escarpment and water bodies, effectively controlled the menace. The authors also established that professional counseling should consider effective psychological and pharmacological treatment of depression. The approaches are effective in controlling suicide in teenagers compared to the restriction method. The gatekeeping, education of physicians and screening in primary care intervention provided insufficient evidence on their possible benefits in suicide prevention in youth. The methods need further investigation is needed to assess their possible benefits in preventing suicide in teenagers. The authors also view that there is no single strategy that can address suicide in youth. They recommend that various parties involved in curbing the menace should combine evidence-based strategies at the population and individual levels. The information provided is informative because it allows the department of counseling profession to understand various methods that can be used to prevent suicide in adolescents.
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Devenish, B., Berk, L., & Lewis, A. J. (2016). The treatment of suicidality in adolescents by psychosocial interventions for depression: a systematic literature review. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry , 50 (8), 726-740. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0004867415627374
The authors at The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists conducted a systematic review to test whether psychological interventions geared towards prevention and treatment of depression in adolescents can reduce suicidality. The authors used PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, Medline, and Schopus databases to obtain relevant information on the subject matter. The research findings validated the hypothesis since most structured psychological treatment and interventions used to control depression decreased suicidality over time. The evidence suggests that behavioral and cognitive therapy interventions produce pre-post reductions in suicidality compared to pharmacotherapy. The authors argue that adequate treatment of the underlying depressive disorder, suicidal behavior, and ideation controls negative events that can lead to suicide, thus reducing suicide attempts in adolescents. They further argue that using behavioral and cognitive therapy helps to create and regulate emotions. Suicide prevention interventions are effective for youth experiencing depression that can result in suicide. Unfortunately, the methods only showed short-term effects. As a result, the authors recommended that integration of cognitive and behavioral methods with dialectal techniques can lead to long-term prevention of suicide in youths. From the findings, a large percentage of youth that is subjected to cognitive and behavioral therapy re-attempt suicide. The information is important in the counseling profession since it provides a framework that can be used to evaluate how cognitive and behavioral methods can be integrated with other methods to increase their effectiveness in suicide control in adolescents.
Ziaei, R., Viitasara, E., Soares, J., Sadeghi-Bazarghani, H., Dastgiri, S., Zeinalzadeh, A. H., ... & Mohammadi, R. (2017). Suicidal ideation and its correlates among high school students in Iran: a cross-sectional study. BMC psychiatry , 17 (1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1298-y
The authors and researchers at the Department of Health Sciences, Unit for Public Science, Mid Sweden University, used a cross-sectional study of high school students from Iran to determine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in young people between the ages of 15 and 17. They hypothesized that the psychosocial environment and its elements contribute to students' suicidal behavior and ideation. They established that student's thoughts towards suicide are caused by bullying and stress associated with family relationships. The article also outlined that exposure to cyberbullying for both high school and junior students contributes to their desire to commit suicide. Other factors that the authors identified might contribute to suicide among youth include sex, academic course, school records, and stress about relationships with friends, sexual abuse, bullying, and drug and alcohol use. Unfortunately, youth experiencing the aforesaid stressors prefer to use the internet to find solutions rather than confiding in their teachers. The authors recommend that school-based mental health literacy education programs should be developed to promote knowledge and help-seeking behaviors in teenagers. The teachers and school counselors should also be taught how to respond to suicidal ideas that youth might have. The article is informative because it allows the counseling profession to learn about common signs to identify suicidal individuals and the existing gaps in help-seeking behaviors in adolescents.
Dowling, S., & Doyle, L. (2017). Responding to self-harm in the school setting: the experience of guidance counsellors and teachers in Ireland. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling , 45 (5), 583-592. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2016.1164297
The authors at the Mental Health Nursing at Trinity College Dublin used school-based studies to evaluate the number of young people experiencing self-harm issues that seek professional help. The research hypothesizes that only the school counselor and the teachers have the potential of being aware of the adolescent's self-harm. Unfortunately, little is known about how the information derived from them can help professionals respond to distressed students. The authors also argue that despite school counselors and teachers being aware of the challenges facing distressed adolescents, they lack information on how to support them. Based on the qualitative descriptive study findings, the authors established that the school psychotherapists and teachers respond to self-harm in adolescents in a highly emotive way. The method may not be able to address the common challenges faced by adolescents leading to the escalation of their suicidal thoughts. According to the authors, distressed students require counseling and empathy to allow them to communicate their challenges. Due to the inability of the teachers and school counselors to address the psychological distress facing the students, the authors recommend that they should be offered further professional support and training. The research is significant in the counseling profession because it demonstrates a need for further training and professional support of teachers and guidance and counseling experts in schools.
Wilson, K., Buultjens, M., Monfries, M., & Karimi, L. (2017). Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy for adolescents experiencing depression and/or anxiety: A therapist's perspective. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry , 22 (1), 16-33. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1359104515572379
The authors at the School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Australia, outlines that animal-assisted interventions can help suicidal adolescents overcome the limitations of traditional therapies. In some adolescents, the traditional psychotherapy methods such as rational emotive cannot work, leading to an increase in their tendency to commit suicide. The researchers used the Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) approach that involves a horse and professionals working with adolescents experiencing suicidal elements. The authors view that the therapy helps individuals build confidence, trust, self-efficacy, communication, and impulse control. The therapy methods involve the ability of the young person to complete tasks based of their ability and provide feedback to the therapists. The authors view that common techniques used in the therapy process important in treating anxiety in youths include cognitive therapy, practicing activities, activity schedule, play, and storytelling. The research findings demonstrated that a range of improvements, such as increased confidence, self-esteem, assertiveness, and decreased self-harm behaviors, was achieved. The response is associated with the non-judgmental and biased techniques used, feedback and mirroring, and using an animal as a metaphor for real life. The research is significant because it provides information about an alternative therapy that professional counselors can use in suicidal individuals who are not responding to traditional methods.
Gallo, L. L. (2017). Professional issues in school counseling and suicide prevention. Journal of School Counseling , 15 (11), n11. http://jsc.montana.edu
The author, a researcher at the Montana State University, College of Education, Health and Human Development, used data from the peer-reviewed journals of young people to test the hypothesis that certain groups of students are at higher risk of committing suicide than others. The hypothesis supports that school counselors have the ethical obligation to protect the learners and educate them and school staff about warning signs and risks of suicide caused by psychosocial challenges. The researcher found that a professional counselor's work is to create supportive relationships with the learners in the classroom and group or individual setting. The mechanism helps to identify social and emotional needs that can contribute to suicide ideas in each of them. The author views that upon identifying students with suicidal characteristics, a professional counselor should keep them safe before they are transferred to their parents or guardians. If the parents or guardians fail to take potential suicide threats seriously, the professional counselors are required to report the matter to child protective services. Nonetheless, they should document subsequent interactions with them. The author also highlights that professional counselors should apply ethical practices such as competence while dispatching their responsibilities. The information is vital to the research since it educates on the role of professional counselors in suicide prevention in adolescents.
Gunn, J. F., & Goldstein, S. E. (2017). Bullying and suicidal behavior during adolescence: A developmental perspective. Adolescent research review , 2 (2), 77-97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-016-0038-8
The authors at the Departmental of Family and Child Studies, Montclair State University, used a review of literature from longitudinal datasets in the United Kingdom and the United States to evaluate the relationship between bullying and suicide, emphasizing the developmental factors in adolescents. The hypothesis supports the anecdotal evidence derived from different case studies obtained from the literature regarding the link existing between victims of bullying and suicide. The social, psychological, and cognitive development in teenagers is characterized by an overlapping construct of aggression associated with suicidal behavior, bullying, and psychopathology. They established that impulsivity is tied to suicide, an important element that should be considered in counseling while dealing with suicide attempts in youth. Their findings also attribute that the connection between aggressive behavior, victimization, and bullying is well-established. They lead to increased mental and physical health problems, behavioral difficulties, and low academic achievement. The authors recommend that the school develop a program to inform adolescents about bullying, educate them on its experiences, and promote strategies that can reduce the problem. Compared to other studies, the research resonates with Shain's views that victimization and bullying have led to many suicide victims in girls compared to boys, as discussed below.
Shain, B. (2016). Suicide and suicide attempts in adolescents. Pediatrics , 138 (1). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1420
The American Academy of Pediatrics author used clinical reports to outline the causes of suicide in youth. The researcher established that challenges such as stressful life, alcoholism, poor parent-child relationship, bullying, difficulties in school, and social isolation contributed to suicide attempts among them. Despite different causatives mentioned, the author found a clear relationship between bullying perpetration and victimization and suicidal ideation in teenagers. The male was at a higher risk of being bullied, but many females who experienced similar challenges committed suicide. The high rates of suicide in females are associated with later depressive symptoms even after controlling the conduct. Based on multiplicative interactions used by the author, females are affected mostly by bullying because it encompasses invisible methods, unlike in boys. The author attributes bullying methods such as excluding a girl from the social circle or spreading rumors about them to causes invert distress for an extended period. The article is effective since it provides knowledge about risk factors that can lead to suicide in adolescents, such as psychosis, and how professional counselors may assist in identifying the teenagers at higher risk. The information also resonates with Gunn and Goldstein's views that professional counselors should consider developing follow-up therapy sessions in girls due to their late stages of committing suicide after the bullying incident has been solved.
Robinson, J., Cox, G., Bailey, E., Hetrick, S., Rodrigues, M., Fisher, S., & Herrman, H. (2016). Social media and suicide prevention: a systematic review. Early intervention in psychiatry , 10 (2), 103-121. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.12229
The authors at the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre and Orygen Youth Health Research Centre used a systematic review of articles from Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, CINHAL, and the Cochrane Library published between 1991 and April 2014 to identify evidence relating to ways that social media can be used as a tool for suicide prevention. They established that their hypothesis is supported because many people use social media, and designating it for suicide prevention is effective. The authors view that the creation of social media campaigns contributes to suicide prevention in teenagers. Based on the authors, the suicide prevention campaign in social media is feasible, and therefore, engaging the young people in designing them is important. In designing the campaign, the authors recommend that the people involved should evaluate the experiences of the young people to capture their views. The process allows the adolescents to safely share information about suicide, participate in studies on the same, and engage in the national campaign on matters that contribute to self-harm in adolescents. The authors view that social media campaign is effective in controlling the rising cases of suicide in adolescents because it provides inclusive support services. The effectiveness of this article is based on the notion that social media platform prevents suicide and professional counselors should consider upgrading their services to meet the needs of online users.
Kroning, M., & Kroning, K. (2016). Teen depression and suicide: A silent crisis. Journal of Christian nursing , 33 (2), 78-86. https://doi.org/10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000254
The authors and the researchers at the InterVarsity Nurses Christian Fellowship used case-control studies of youth between the ages of 14 to 17 to tests the hypothesis that symptoms of depression such as sadness associated with hormonal imbalances and moodiness are life-threatening concerns in adolescents. Based on different case studies, the authors' hypothesis was validated since it was established that symptoms of depression such as feeling sad, angry, empty, cranky, and frustrated make adolescents think about committing suicide. The authors also found that depression symptoms that lead to suicide were high in girls compared to boys, and information was previously remarked by Shain, Gunn, and Goldstein. The authors alluded that depression prevents youth from going to school, work, and live an enjoyable life. In the long run, the adolescents who are depressed lack the motivation or energy to engage in any productive life activity. The authors also view that different youth experience depression in their way. The common causes of depression include hereditary and psychosocial factors. Depending on the sources of stress, the authors view that adolescents can experience mild, moderate, or severe cases. The article also views that prior an adolescent commits suicide, they engage in self-inflicted injuries as a way of calling out for help. The article is effective in the research because it provides information that the counseling profession can use to develop effective psychotherapy methods in adolescents.
References
Devenish, B., Berk, L., & Lewis, A. J. (2016). The treatment of suicidality in adolescents by psychosocial interventions for depression: a systematic literature review. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry , 50 (8), 726-740. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0004867415627374
Dowling, S., & Doyle, L. (2017). Responding to self-harm in the school setting: the experience of guidance counsellors and teachers in Ireland. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling , 45 (5), 583-592. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2016.1164297
Gallo, L. L. (2017). Professional issues in school counseling and suicide prevention. Journal of School Counseling , 15 (11), n11. http://jsc.montana.edu
Gunn, J. F., & Goldstein, S. E. (2017). Bullying and suicidal behavior during adolescence: A developmental perspective. Adolescent research review , 2 (2), 77-97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-016-0038-8
Kroning, M., & Kroning, K. (2016). Teen depression and suicide: A silent crisis. Journal of Christian nursing , 33 (2), 78-86. https://doi.org/10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000254
Robinson, J., Cox, G., Bailey, E., Hetrick, S., Rodrigues, M., Fisher, S., & Herrman, H. (2016). Social media and suicide prevention: a systematic review. Early intervention in psychiatry , 10 (2), 103-121. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.12229
Shain, B. (2016). Suicide and suicide attempts in adolescents. Pediatrics , 138 (1). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1420
Wilson, K., Buultjens, M., Monfries, M., & Karimi, L. (2017). Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy for adolescents experiencing depression and/or anxiety: A therapist's perspective. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry , 22 (1), 16-33. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1359104515572379
Zalsman, G., Hawton, K., Wasserman, D., van Heeringen, K., Arensman, E., Sarchiapone, M., ... & Zohar, J. (2016). Suicide prevention strategies revisited: 10-year systematic review. The Lancet Psychiatry , 3 (7), 646-659. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30030-X
Ziaei, R., Viitasara, E., Soares, J., Sadeghi-Bazarghani, H., Dastgiri, S., Zeinalzadeh, A. H., ... & Mohammadi, R. (2017). Suicidal ideation and its correlates among high school students in Iran: a cross-sectional study. BMC psychiatry , 17 (1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1298-y
