Teruomi Tsukahara1,2, Hiroaki Arai3, Tomoko Kamijo3, Yoshikiyo Kobayashi4, Shinsuke Washizuka5, Heihachiro Arito6, Tetsuo Nomiyama3,6. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano, 390-8621, Japan. tsukat@shinshu-u.ac.jp. 2. Department of Occupational Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano, 390-8621, Japan. tsukat@shinshu-u.ac.jp. 3. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano, 390-8621, Japan. 4. Nagano Prefecture Saku Health and Welfare Office, 65-1 Atobe, Saku, Nagano, 385-8533, Japan. 5. Department of Psychiatry, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano, 390-8621, Japan. 6. Department of Occupational Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano, 390-8621, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Feeling ashamed for seeking help when distressed is known to be a critical factor promoting suicidal behaviors. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between suicidal ideation and psychosocial factors, including worries or anxieties, having a person to confide in, feeling ashamed for seeking help when distressed, and K6 score. METHODS: Fourteen out of 77 municipalities from Nagano Prefecture participated in this questionnaire survey. Participants of both sexes over 20 years of age were randomly selected according to age distribution in each municipality. Association between suicidal ideation and sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, including "feeling ashamed for seeking help", were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among a total of 11,100 participants, 7394 (66.6%) returned the questionnaire. 2147 participants responded properly to essential study parameters and were submitted to the final analyses. The adjusted odds ratio of suicidal ideation was 2.09 (95% CI 1.49-2.94) among participants feeling ashamed for seeking help, compared to those not feeling ashamed. Although the rate of "no person to confide in" was 4.4%, participants who responded with "no person to confide in" had significantly increased odds ratio of suicidal ideation compared with those who responded with "having a person to confide in" (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.12-3.47). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a need for tailored intervention targeting individuals at risk by gatekeepers to encourage individuals at risk to overcome feeling ashamed for seeking help and to cultivate an appropriate person to confide in.
OBJECTIVES: Feeling ashamed for seeking help when distressed is known to be a critical factor promoting suicidal behaviors. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between suicidal ideation and psychosocial factors, including worries or anxieties, having a person to confide in, feeling ashamed for seeking help when distressed, and K6 score. METHODS: Fourteen out of 77 municipalities from Nagano Prefecture participated in this questionnaire survey. Participants of both sexes over 20 years of age were randomly selected according to age distribution in each municipality. Association between suicidal ideation and sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, including "feeling ashamed for seeking help", were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among a total of 11,100 participants, 7394 (66.6%) returned the questionnaire. 2147 participants responded properly to essential study parameters and were submitted to the final analyses. The adjusted odds ratio of suicidal ideation was 2.09 (95% CI 1.49-2.94) among participants feeling ashamed for seeking help, compared to those not feeling ashamed. Although the rate of "no person to confide in" was 4.4%, participants who responded with "no person to confide in" had significantly increased odds ratio of suicidal ideation compared with those who responded with "having a person to confide in" (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.12-3.47). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a need for tailored intervention targeting individuals at risk by gatekeepers to encourage individuals at risk to overcome feeling ashamed for seeking help and to cultivate an appropriate person to confide in.
Authors: R C Kessler; G Andrews; L J Colpe; E Hiripi; D K Mroczek; S L T Normand; E E Walters; A M Zaslavsky Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2002-08 Impact factor: 7.723