Suicidal Behavior Among 'Normal' High School Students (From Adolescent Suicide, P 215-227, 1988, Robert W. Cole, Jr., ed. -- See NCJ-117025)

• NCJ Number: 117042
• Author(s): K Smith; S Crawford
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Phi Delta Kappa
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Reprinted from Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, V 16, No. 3, Fall 1986

Annotation

A survey of 315 students in public and private high schools in Kansas found that suicide is a personal concern for most students.

Abstract

Information was gathered by means of the Beck Depression Inventory and a survey of behavior thought to relate to suicide. Results showed that 62.6 percent reported some degree of suicidal ideation or action. A total of 10.5 percent had made one or more suicide attempts. Females made 5.6 attempts for every 1 male attempt. When the responders from the all-female school were excluded, the percentage of students making attempts was 8.4 percent. One hundred seventeen students were found to be nonsuicidal, 117 were ideators, 46 were planners, and 33 were attempters. Results indicated the need to give attention to all students and not solely to the seriously suicidal young persons. Tables and 15 references.