ภาวะซึมเศร้า และความเสี่ยงต่อการฆ่าตัวตายของวัยรุ่น ในนครหลวงเวียงจันทน์ สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว

Abstract

Depression and suicide are global-vital mental health and psychiatric problems. This cross-sectional descriptive research aimed to study depression and suicide risk among adolescents of different ages in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The sample included 403 students aged 10-19 studying in grades 1-7 from December 2021 to February 2022. The research instruments were 1) A Demographic Data Record; 2) the Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A) (Jonhson et al., 2002); and 3) the Suicide Risk Assessment Form (Kongsak et al., 2008). Descriptive data analysis was used to analyze the data. Results revealed that: 1. The samples had no depression (75.93%) and only 24.07% had depression. Those with depression reported mild and moderate depression, at 96.91% and 3.09%, respectively. 2. The samples had no suicide (96.87%) and only 1.24% had suicide risk. Those with suicide risk reported mild and moderate suicide risk, at 60.00% and 40.00%, respectively. The research results can be used as basic information for mental health promotion and psychiatric problem prevention among students. The results should be utilized as a part of the teaching and learning in Lao PDR, to raise awareness about depression and suicide risk.