Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate
community mental health professionals and hospital
workers attitude and awareness towards suicide.
Methods : This study investigated 264 community mental
health professionals and 228 hospital workers. SOQs
(Suicidal Opinion Questionnaires) were used from July
2007 to September 2007. After a factor analysis for the
attitude towards suicide, the items on ethics, mental illness,
religion, risk, and motivation were included in the
subsequent analysis.
Results : There were significant differences in the
attitude towards suicide according to religion, age,
educational background, the marriage status, the economic
position, and different professional licenses. Hospital
workers’ view was different from the community workers’.
The hospital workers judged that suicide was due to mental
illness, and suicide was high for the people in a special
environment and who lacked motivation, which caused
them to fall in a dangerous situation. For the lower
educational group, they thought that suicide was
attributable to mental illness. The awareness for suicide
was significantly higher in the group with a postgraduate
education, unmarried people, mental health professionals
and the persons who had concern and experience with
suicide. The factors that had an influence on the awareness
of suicide were the items of mental illness, religion, risk and
motivational factors.
Conclusions : This study suggested that the factors to
increase the awareness and attitude for suicide were the
experience of increased education and case management
of suicide. Therefore, education dealing with suicide and
reinforcement of crisis management programs should be
developed.
Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate
community mental health professionals and hospital
workers attitude and awareness towards suicide.
Methods : This study investigated 264 community mental
health professionals and 228 hospital workers. SOQs
(Suicidal Opinion Questionnaires) were used from July
2007 to September 2007. After a factor analysis for the
attitude towards suicide, the items on ethics, mental illness,
religion, risk, and motivation were included in the
subsequent analysis.
Results : There were significant differences in the
attitude towards suicide according to religion, age,
educational background, the marriage status, the economic
position, and different professional licenses. Hospital
workers’ view was different from the community workers’.
The hospital workers judged that suicide was due to mental
illness, and suicide was high for the people in a special
environment and who lacked motivation, which caused
them to fall in a dangerous situation. For the lower
educational group, they thought that suicide was
attributable to mental illness. The awareness for suicide
was significantly higher in the group with a postgraduate
education, unmarried people, mental health professionals
and the persons who had concern and experience with
suicide. The factors that had an influence on the awareness
of suicide were the items of mental illness, religion, risk and
motivational factors.
Conclusions : This study suggested that the factors to
increase the awareness and attitude for suicide were the
experience of increased education and case management
of suicide. Therefore, education dealing with suicide and
reinforcement of crisis management programs should be
developed.