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Begin New Search Topic Suicide Political Geography South Asia

1. Media Reporting of Suicides in Bhutan: Analysis of Adherence to WHO Guidelines

Author:
Tshoki Zangmo and Sonam Zangmo
Publication Date:
12-2019
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Journal of Bhutan Studies
Institution:
Centre for Bhutan & GNH Studies (CBS)
Abstract:
Irresponsible media reporting on suicide is associated with copycat suicidal acts. To prevent imitative suicides, guidelines have been developed to inform the media professionals on reporting standards. In 2008, the World Health Organisation recommended a standard media guideline. The present study examines the quality of adherance on suicide reporting by Bhutanese media houses as per the recommended WHO guideline. For the study, the guideline was translated into some assessment criteria comprising of 21 questions, which includes front page reporting, details on method adopted, use of visuals, offering information on help line, and linking suicide to specific problems of life amongst others. Content analysis was carried out on print and Internet based newspapers from January 2013 to December 2018. An adherance score was computed from a selected set of 10 questions. A total of 90 articles were assessed from eight media houses. Excel and Stata 15 were used to carry out descriptive analysis. Findings reveal that majority of articles (99%) breached one or more of the 10 media guidelines. Results suggest that there is a need for greater advocacy, and monitoring of media reporting on suicide stories. Targeted interventions to improve reporting can begin with the development of a national guideline for suicide reporting. Likewise, attempts should be made to develop curriculum, and strategies to boost the positive contribution that media can make to prevent suicide.
Topic:
Media, News Analysis, WHO, and Suicide
Political Geography:
South Asia and Bhutan

2. Risk Factors Associated with Lifetime Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation and Attempts Amongst the Bhutanese Population

Author:
Tshoki Zangmo and Tandin Dendup
Publication Date:
11-2018
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Journal of Bhutan Studies
Institution:
Centre for Bhutan & GNH Studies (CBS)
Abstract:
With statistics on suicidal death increasing, suicide has become a serious public health concern in Bhutan. In an effort to provide information for prevention and treatment strategies, this paper identifies risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempt. Analyses were carried out using crosssectional data from the Gross National Happiness Survey 2015. The survey has a sample size of 7,153 collected via face-to-face interviews. The prevalence of lifetime suicidal thoughts and attempt were the main outcome variables. Independent variables include individual, and household level characteristics, and few other indicators on health and relationships. A multiple logistic regression was performed to explore the correlates and influencing factors. Lifetime prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempt were found to be significantly greater amongst females (OR 1.653; 95% CI 1.252-2.181). On the contrary, middle (OR 0.430; 95% CI 0.294-0.630) and older (OR 0.168; 95% CI 0.078-0.363) age groups seem to be contemplating lesser on suicide as compared to the younger population (aged 15 to 24). Those who reported higher levels of mental distress (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.036-1.087), scored lower in family relationship index (OR 0.743; 95% CI 0.704-0.784), and who displayed higher frequency of negative emotions (OR 1.061; 95% CI 1.029-1.095) were more likely to have ideated and attempted suicide. Likewise, suicidal behaviour was observed to be greater amongst those who reported some form of disability, lower number of healthy days, and those who had been a victim of crime. The findings have important implications for developing targeted interventions for suicide prevention and treatment. The study is, however, limited by its cross-sectional data design and a restricted set of predictors.
Topic:
Mental Health, Public Health, Risk Factors, and Suicide
Political Geography:
South Asia and Bhutan

3. Suicide Trends in Bhutan from 2009 to 2013

Author:
Kuenzang Lhadon
Publication Date:
09-2014
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Journal of Bhutan Studies
Institution:
Centre for Bhutan & GNH Studies (CBS)
Abstract:
This paper focuses on the increasing trend of suicide in Bhutan over a period of five years from 2009-2013, and argues that there is a need of immediate attention from the government or any other relevant organization to set up a helpline, or to put in place any strategy to prevent/reduce it. For a small country like Bhutan, an average annual suicide growth rate of 9.4 percent is an alarmingly high one. A descriptive analysis of this time series data is used to generate comparison of suicide cases by region, gender, occupation and age group to identify which of the groups need the most attention.
Topic:
Mental Health, Public Health, and Suicide
Political Geography:
South Asia and Bhutan

4. Suicide Trends in Bhutan from 2009 to 2013

Author:
Kuenzang Lhadon
Publication Date:
03-2014
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Journal of Bhutan Studies
Institution:
Centre for Bhutan & GNH Studies (CBS)
Abstract:
This paper focuses on the increasing trend of suicide in Bhutan over a period of five years from 2009-2013, and argues that there is a need of immediate attention from the government or any other relevant organization to set up a helpline, or to put in place any strategy to prevent/reduce it. For a small country like Bhutan, an average annual suicide growth rate of 9.4 percent is an alarmingly high one. A descriptive analysis of this time series data is used to generate comparison of suicide cases by region, gender, occupation and age group to identify which of the groups need the most attention.
Topic:
Mental Health, Public Health, and Suicide
Political Geography:
South Asia and Bhutan