College students' experiences with suicide and reactions to suicidal verbalizations: A model for prevention

Résumé

Of 140 undergraduates in 2 samples who responded to questionnaires, all but 13 reported contact with peers who expressed suicidal intentions or attempted suicide and/or expressed suicidal feelings or attempted suicide themselves. These verbalizations of suicidal feelings and attempts are described, and a model of the effectiveness of prevention of suicide by means of appropriate peer reactions are presented. This model is based on results of multivariate log-linear analyses of qualitative data by the method of maximum likelihood. The model, replicated in the 2nd sample, suggests that an open response of discussing suicidal feelings is generally perceived as helpful, but is less likely to be effective when the suicidal ideation follows the loss of a significant person. Implications for prevention are discussed. (17 ref) (PsycLIT Database Copyright 1982 American Psychological Assn, all rights reserved) RELATION-INTERPERSONNELLE PAIR ÉTUDIANT-COLLÉGIAL COMMUNICATION-VERBALE PRÉVENTION ÉTUDIANT-UNIVERSITAIRE ADULTE ÉTUDIANT-COLLÉGIAL JEUNE-ADULTE