Suicidal ideation: protective and risk factors among high school adolescents

Abstract

Adolescents often think of death as a way to alleviate their pain, or to escape the burdens they are experiencing. Some of them fail to cope effectively with their problems and have difficulty in handling their emotions which lead to their suicidal ideation. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that one person dies because of suicide every 40 seconds. The Philippines is claimed to be 163rd out of 183 countries in terms of suicide rate. Moreover, the Department of Health (DOH) maintained that the said thirty - four percent (34%) of the death cases were due to suicide. In Baguio city, a local newspaper published that there have been one hundred twelve (112) recorded suicides in Baguio city since 2018. It is also claimed that roughly three to twenty percent of adolescents may attempt suicide at some of point in their lives. Thus, it is important to study suicidal ideation among adolescents and the risk and protective factors of suicidal ideations in order to decrease the likelihood of suicidal ideations and attempts among adolescents. This study aims to determine the suicidal ideations of the junior high students and its relationship to risk and protective factors. Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions: 1. What is the level of the suicidal ideation among the junior high school students? 2. What is the level of adverse childhood experience as a risk factor to suicidal ideation? 3. What is the level of the following protective factors to suicidal ideations? a. Resilience; b. Forgiveness; and c. Coping Mechanisms? 4. What is the relationship between suicidal ideation and adverse childhood experiences as a risk factor? Hypothesis: There is a significant relationship between a suicidal ideation and adverse childhood experiences. 5. What is the relationship between suicidal ideation and the following protective factors? a. Resilience; b. Forgiveness; and c. Coping Mechanisms? Hypothesis: There is a significant relationship between suicidal ideation and the protective factors namely adverse childhood experiences, resilience, forgiveness and coping mechanisms. The following are the findings of the study: 1. The junior high students of Saint Louis University - Laboratory High School Junior High (SLU - LHS JH) have low level of suicidal ideation. 2. There is a very low level of adverse childhood experiences among the junior high students of SLU - LHS JH. 3. The junior high students of SLU - LHS JH have a high level of protective factors namely resilience, forgiveness and coping mechanism. 4. There is a significant, positive relationship between adverse childhood experiences and suicidal ideations. 5. There is a significant, negative relationship between protective factors and suicidal ideation. Based on the findings of the study, the following are the derived conclusions: 1. The junior high school students have infrequent thoughts of death and suicide. 2. The junior high school students have never experienced adverse childhood experiences. 3. The junior high students have the capacity for forgiveness, resilience and coping. 4. Adverse childhood experiences increase the suicidal ideations of the junior high school students. 5. Resilience, forgiveness and coping mechanisms can decrease the suicidal ideations of the junior high students. Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, the following recommendations are suggested: 1. Guidance Counselors may give talks and group dynamics activities on highlighting the importance of life to the junior high school students. Social media platforms through the help of the peer facilitators may also help in the information service on this topic. it is also suggested that Guidance Counselors attend Parents' Advisory Council meetings and give a talk on promoting mental health among young adolescents. The Guidance Counselors may also provide talks on active listening and promotion of psychological well-being to the teachers so that they can serve as partners of the Guidance Office in helping the students. 2. Information service about moving on from the past adversities and emotion management may be conducted to the students through talks during Homeroom Guidance Period. A talk on positive discipline is also recommended for the parents, guardians and teachers. 3. Information dissemination via info graphics and videos, and group dynamics activities on perseverance in life, forgiving oneself and seeking help from others as a support system can be given to the students by the Guidance Counselors. 4. The Guidance Counselors may also conduct seminars on parenting. Forum between parents and students can also be facilitated by the Guidance Counselors. A talk on understanding the Generation Z may be given to both parents and teachers. 5. There is a need for the Guidance Counselors to strengthen their information service regarding the topics of resilience, coping and forgiveness. These topics may be integrated in the Homeroom Guidance Period of the students and in their religion subject. 6. Future researchers are suggested to explore other protective factors in relation to suicidal ideation. Moreover, they may also study the suicidal ideation of senior high school students on both private and public schools.