Prevalence of suicidality among the adolescents of a rural municipality of Eastern Terai of Nepal

  • Srijana Bhattarai Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Bijaya Thapa Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Shital Bhandary Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Keywords: Adolescents, Eastern Terai of Nepal, Suicidality

Abstract

Introduction: Suicidality is a mental health condition that includes suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt. Prevalence of Suicidality from the pilot study conducted in 2018 in Nepal shows 8.7% among adolescents aged 13 to 17years. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of suicidality among adolescents of a rural municipality of eastern Terai of Nepal.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 443 adolescents from the randomly selected households of a rural municipality of Eastern Terai of Nepal. Validated self-administered tools; suicidal action and plan tools were used to assess the prevalence of suicidality.

Result: The study revealed that 30.93% of the adolescent's respondents had developed suicidal thought in the last one year. Similarly, 22.12% of them had made suicidal plan and 12.42% had attempted suicide.

Conclusion: High prevalence of suicidality among adolescents indicates need for scaling of mental health awareness programs and services in the rural municipality. Concerned authorities should take an intervention to decrease preventable death among adolescents.

Author Biographies

Srijana Bhattarai, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal

Student, Master of Public Health, School of Public Health

Bijaya Thapa, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal

Assistant Professor, School of Public Health

Shital Bhandary, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal

Associate Professor, School of Public Health

Published
2020-12-31
Section
Original Article