RELATIONSHIP OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND SUICIDAL IDEATIONS BEHAVIOUR IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

Suicide is a serious, complex, and multidimensional phenomena rising at an alarming rate with India accounting for nearly 40% of global deaths by suicide and suicide being the leading cause of death in the 15-29 demographic. With an increase in suicidal ideations, attempts and deaths, it becomes imperative that we try to understand protective factors and ways to prevent it which in most cases can be accrued to timely intervention and social support. The current study focused on a sample of 68 high school students (34 males and 34 females) aged 15 to 18, employing standardized scales to measure the relationship between perceived social support and suicidal ideations. The results indicated that while there is a significantly negative correlation between perceived social support and suicidal ideations, female high school students experienced higher suicidal ideations as compared to male high school students, yet no significant gender differences were found in levels of perceived social support. In conclusion, with most suicides being preventable, the gender differences in suicidal ideations without differences in perceived social support call for a deeper exploration to reinforce social support mechanisms particularly in high- risk population of adolescents.