Protective factors relating to decreased risks of adolescent suicidal behaviour.

A stratified random sample of 9015 students from 100 junior middle schools in Beijing, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Urumqi completed the Chinese version of Global School-Based Student Health Survey. Overall, 17.4% of students had seriously considered attempting suicide, and 8.1% had made a specific plan to attempt suicide during the 12 months preceding the survey. The students in Wuhan (18.7%) and Urumqi (20.8%) cities were significantly more likely than students in Beijing (14.4%) and Hangzhou (14.4%) to have suicidal ideation (χ2 = 45.9, P < 0.001). Female students were significantly more likely than male students to have suicidal ideation and have made suicide attempts odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, P < 0.001. Results indicated that the rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts increased with age (OR = 1.44, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression models showed that suicide risk tended to decrease significantly when Ôdays of missed classes or school without permission were less than oneÕ, and when students thought students in their school were kind and helpful most of the time or always', Ôparents or guardians checked to see if homework was done most of the time or alwaysÕ, Ôparents or guardians understood their problems and worries most of the time or alwaysÕ and Ôparents or guardians really know what they are doing with their free time most of the time or alwaysÕ.