Psychological strains and suicide intent: Results from a psychological autopsy study with Chinese rural young suicides

Abstract

Background:

Previous studies have examined the prevalence of psychological strains among various suicide populations. However, it is still unexamined whether psychological strains can predict suicide intent directly.

Aims:

We planned to explore the prevalence of psychological strains and analyze the relationship between psychological strains and suicide intent among Chinese rural young suicides.

Methods:

Psychological autopsy method was used to investigate the environmental and other factors of rural young suicides. Psychological strains were identified from in-depth interviews by the proxy informants of each suicide. The first 8 items of Beck’s Suicidal Intention Scale (SIS) were used to estimate the suicide intent.

Results:

Results showed that 96.6% of the suicides had at least one type of strain, and those suicides who had more strains tended to score higher on the suicide intent scale.

Conclusion:

The study further supports that suicide intent can be predicted by psychological strains in Chinese rural young suicides. The scanning of psychological strains can be used for suicide prevention in Chinese rural young suicides.

Keywords

Suicide intent strain theory of suicide psychological strain China

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