The Relationship Between Negative Life Events, Suicidal Thoughts, and Community Support in Icelandic and Dutch Youths

In the Netherlands, suicide is the leading cause of death in youths aged 10 – 20. As emphasised by the World Health Organisation, suicide is preventable. Early identification of those at risk of suicide is essential to provide suitable care. Previous research has shown that those who have experienced adverse life events are at a greater risk of suicide. The Icelandic Model for Primary Prevention of Substance Abuse (IPM) is a pioneering preventative model. The main goal of this model is to prevent substance abuse in Icelandic youths. One major aspect of the IPM is community-building. Community building has shown to be able to aid in not only preventing substance abuse, but suicidality as well, as social isolation is a risk factor for suicidality. This study attempted to assess how youth suicidality, negative life events, and community support interconnect, and whether this relationship is the same in the Netherlands and Iceland. Results showed a significant relationship between...Show moreIn the Netherlands, suicide is the leading cause of death in youths aged 10 – 20. As emphasised by the World Health Organisation, suicide is preventable. Early identification of those at risk of suicide is essential to provide suitable care. Previous research has shown that those who have experienced adverse life events are at a greater risk of suicide. The Icelandic Model for Primary Prevention of Substance Abuse (IPM) is a pioneering preventative model. The main goal of this model is to prevent substance abuse in Icelandic youths. One major aspect of the IPM is community-building. Community building has shown to be able to aid in not only preventing substance abuse, but suicidality as well, as social isolation is a risk factor for suicidality. This study attempted to assess how youth suicidality, negative life events, and community support interconnect, and whether this relationship is the same in the Netherlands and Iceland. Results showed a significant relationship between negative life events and suicidal thoughts in youths. In the Netherlands, a small moderating effect of community support on this relationship was found; this was not found in Iceland. The relationship between negative life events, suicidal thoughts and community support is different in the two countries. This means that from this research, there is not enough data to support the idea that the IPM could help significantly reduce youth suicidality in the Netherlands through increased community support. Further research could focus more broadly on suicidal behaviour, rather than suicidal thoughts, in relation to community support and negative life events.Show less

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The Relationship Between Negative Life Events, Suicidal Thoughts, and Community Support in Icelandic and Dutch Youths