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Risk and protective factors for suicide among Guyanese youth: Youth and stakeholder perspectives
Author(s) -
Arora Prerna G.,
Persaud Sarika,
Parr Kayla
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1464-066X
pISSN - 0020-7594
DOI - 10.1002/ijop.12625
Subject(s) - psychology , qualitative research , focus group , suicide prevention , grounded theory , coping (psychology) , stakeholder , positive youth development , protective factor , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , political science , medicine , environmental health , sociology , public relations , social science , anthropology
Guyana, a low‐to‐middle‐income country (LMIC) in South America, leads the world in youth suicide. As an understanding of risk and protective factors is critical to the development of culturally informed suicide prevention efforts, research exploring these factors among youth in Guyana is needed. The current study expands on current research on adolescent suicide in Guyana and LMICs broadly by using qualitative focus groups and interviews to explore adult stakeholders' and youth's perspectives. Participants included 17 adult stakeholders and 40 adolescents in Guyana. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach. Themes related to participants' perceptions of risk factors for suicide included demographic characteristics, pressure and expectations, adults' responses to youth, limited coping with stressful life events and exposure to suicide. Themes related to protective factors for suicide included positive social support and involvement in community activities. Findings have implications for the development and tailoring of suicide prevention efforts for Guyanese youth.