• Madelyn S Gould, Drew Velting, Marjorie Kleinman, Christopher Lucas, John Graham Thomas, and Michelle Chung.
• Division of Child Psychiatry, Department of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, NY 10032, USA. gouldm@childpsych.columbia.edu
• J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2004 Sep 1; 43 (9): 1124-33.

ObjectiveTo identify youths' attitudes about coping and help-seeking strategies for suicidal ideation/behavior and examine their demographic and clinical correlates.MethodA self-report survey was completed by high school students (N = 2,419) in six New York State schools from 1998 through 2001. The relationship between suicide attitudes and gender, depression, substance problems, serious suicidal ideation/behavior, and first-hand experience with a suicidal peer was examined.ResultsTwo factors that approximate avoidance and approach coping responses, maladaptive coping strategies and help-seeking strategies, respectively, were identified. Boys scored higher than girls (t = 7.96, df = 2341, p < .001), and depressed youths (t = 15.56, df = 2323, p < .001), students with substance problems (t = 11.07, df = 2340, p < .001), and suicidal youths (t = 15.14, df = 2341, p < .001) scored significantly higher than their healthy counterparts on the maladaptive coping strategies factor. Students with first-hand experience with a suicidal peer scored significantly higher on the maladaptive coping strategies factor than those without this experience (t = 7.95, df = 2321, p < .001). Lower risk groups scored significantly higher on an adaptive help-seeking strategies factor.ConclusionsHigh-risk adolescents' attitudes are characterized by core beliefs that support the use of maladaptive coping strategies in response to depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Targeting such attitudes is a recommended component of youth suicide prevention efforts.Copyright 2004 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

25 keywords...

hide…