Alice in Suicideland: Exploring the Suicidal Ideation Mechanism through the Sense of Connectedness and Help-Seeking Behaviors

Abstract

On average, one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, recent data show. Yet, extant studies have largely focused on the risk factors for suicidal behaviors, not so much on the thought process and the interactions of factors leading up to a suicide attempt. To understand how suicide thoughts arise and persist inside one’s mind, and look for actionable solutions to reduce the risk of suicidal ideation in young adults, the most at-risk group of deaths by suicide. A multifiltering information mechanism called Mindsponge serves as the theoretical basis. Bayesian analysis with the Hamiltonian MCMC technique (Markov Chain Monte Carlo) was run on a dataset of multinational students (N = 268) in an international university in Japan. Item 9 in the PHQ-9 was used to survey suicidal ideation in students. The associations among four main variables, namely (i) suicidal ideation, (ii) help-seeking willingness (informal and formal sources), (iii) social connectedness, and (iv) being an international student, were tested in four models. Social connectedness is negatively associated with suicidal ideation (μ_(ToSC_Suicide) = -0.13 and σ_(ToSC_Suicide) = 0.02), but when the interaction with international students is added, the social connectedness’s effect on suicidal ideation becomes less impactful (μ_(ToSC*Inter_Dom_Suicide) = 0.01 and σ_(ToSC*Inter_Dom_Suicide) = 0.01). Social connectedness on help-seeking behavior among international students is also negative (μ_(ToSC*Inter_Dom_InformalHelp) = -0.01 and σ_(ToSC*Inter_Dom_InformalHelp) = 0.01). Meanwhile, informal help is negatively associated with suicide (μ_(InformalHelp_Suicide) = -0.51 and σ_(InformalHelp_Suicide) = 0.11) whereas formal help is positive (μ_(FormalHelp_Suicide) = 0.08 and σ_(FormalHelp_Suicide) = 0.10). The findings support our assumption on three fundamental conditions for preventing suicidal thoughts: (i) a high degree of belongingness, (ii) accessibility to help-related information, and (iii) healthy perceived cultural responses towards mental health. The implications are clear: to effectively tackle suicidal ideation among students, and broadly in other populations, requires a set of systematically coordinated programs.

CTPPM (Context_Target_Problem_Pattern_Method): Procedure for framing and dealing with research problems

“…Because of the complexity of the suicidal ideation mechanism, Bayesian analysis was chosen to conduct the "Alice" study. More details of why Bayesian analysis was chosen can be found in the paper [1].…”

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By now, this year is the most progressive and productive year for me, with many meaningful studies since I started doing research [1][2][3][4][5][6]. I have wondered what made me progress so fast like that.

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“…I will take the research "Alice in Suicideland: Exploring the Suicidal Ideation Mechanism through the Sense of Connectedness and Help-Seeking Behaviors" as an example of applying the CTPPM [1]. Throughout the paper, I will call it "Alice.…”

Why do I use parsimonious models?

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When conducting quantitative research, I construct models with no more than three predictor variables (or independent variables) most of the time [1][2][3][4][5][6]. That is because I treat research questions (or objectives) as "problems" and follow the principle of parsimony: "entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity" [7].

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Are suicide attacks irrational?

“…No one chooses to kill themselves if they are enjoying their life and find meaningful things from it. Unless the perceived cost of living is even greater than its benefit, suicidal ideation will appear and be considered an option [3].…”