Quick assessment of hopelessness: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Lengthy questionnaires reduce data quality and impose a burden on respondents. Previous researchers proposed that a single item ("My future seems dark to me") and a 4-item component of the Beck's Hopelessness Scale (BHS) can summarise most of the information the BHS provides. There is no clear indication of what BHS cutoff values are useful in identifying people with suicide tendency. METHODS: In a population-based study of Chinese people aged between 15 and 59 in Hong Kong, the Chinese version of the BHS and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression scale were administered by trained interviewers and suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts were self-reported. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis and regression analysis were used to compare the performance of the BHS and its components in identifying people with suicidality and depression. Smoothed level of suicidal tendency was assessed in relation to scores on the BHS and its component to identify thresholds. RESULTS: It is found that the 4-item component and, to a lesser extent, the single item of the BHS perform in ways similar to the BHS. There are non-linear relationship between suicidality and scores on the BHS and the 4-item component; cutoff values identified accordingly have sensitivity and specificity of about 65%. CONCLUSION: The 4-item component is a useful alternative to the BHS. Shortening of psycho-social measurement scales should be considered in order to reduce burden on patients or respondents and to improve response rate

Experience of Chinese suicide survivors in Hong Kong

Live recording from the public lecture organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research Prevention held on 6 December 2005, at the University of Hong KongSpeakers: John R. Jordan (1st presentation), Amy Y.M. Chow (2nd presentation)Information sheets ([3] leaves) with bibliographical references inserted in container1st presentation provides an overview of the research and clinical literature on the prominent emotional themes experienced by suicide survivors, such as heightened guilt, anger, rejection, trauma, and abandonment by the deceased. It also covers factors that may predict an elevated risk for the development of complicated mourning. Utilizing data from a recent pilot study on the needs of suicide survivors, the presenter also identifies interventions that seem to be helpful to many survivors. The content is useful for both clinicians working with survivors and for administrators seeking to develop postvention services for survivorsImpacts of cultural related features for Chinese suicide survivors on the grieving process are discussed in the 2nd presentation and the implications in intervention are delineated. Besides, a series of necessarily procedures required by different departments of the Government are carried out. These procedures are usually perceived as secondary stress of the suicide bereavement and sometimes are even more demanding than the primary stress of vereavement. The procedures required in Hong Kong are briefed and suggestions in minimizing the stress induced are offeredpublished_or_final_versio

自殺與防治的迷思與事實

Speakers: Natalie Tong, Kathy LeungAbout Say yes to life -- People who talk about suicide don't actually commit suicide -- People who attempt suicide are definite about their decision -- Suicide usually takes place with little or no warming -- Talking about suicide leads others to commit suicide -- Sheng ming zai ni shou jian jie -- Tan lun zi sha de ren bu hui zi sha -- Zi sha de ren xin yi hen jian jue -- Zi sha shi hao wu jing hao de -- Tan lun zi sha hui zeng jia zi sha nian touAbout Say yes to life -- People who talk about suicide don't actually commit suicide -- People who attempt suicide are definite about their decision -- Suicide usually takes place with little or no warming -- Talking about suicide leads others to commit suicide -- 生命在你手簡介 -- 談論自殺的人不會自殺 -- 自殺的人心意很堅決 -- 自殺是毫無警號的 -- 談論自殺會增加自殺念頭Title from disc labelProvides some practical tips on how to talk to people who want to commit suicidepublished_or_final_versio

Seminar on understanding depression and suicide

Depression and suicide: a psychological perspective / Dr. Samuel Ho -- Celebrity suicide / Dr. Dominic LeeLive recording from the Seminar, organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research Prevention, held on 15 May 2003, at the University of Hong KongSpeakers, Dr. Samuel Ho (Dept. of Psychology, HKU), Dr. Dominic Lee (Dept. of Psychiatry, CUHK)Dr. Ho gives brief background on what is depression from a psychological perspective, discusses the causes of depression, the relationship between depressionandsuicide, and preventionandtreatment of depression. Dr. Ho talks about celebrity suicide or death and the impact of SARS on mental health. Some stress management strategies are also discussedpublished_or_final_versio

中年自殺問題初探

Ce hua, Luo Yihua, Liang Jinping ; bian zhi, Tan Bide香港賽馬會慈善信託基金贊助1. 香港中年人自殺現象 -- 2. 輕生者的心聲 -- 3. 拯救的藝術 -- 4. 齊來關心 : 留心自殺警號策劃, 羅亦華, 梁錦萍 ; 編製, 譚彼得主持: 廖啓智Zhu chi: Liao Qizhi. Xianggang zhong nian ren zi sha xian xiang -- 2. Qing sheng zhe de xin sheng -- 3. Zheng jiu de yi shu - - 4. Qi lai guan xin : liu xin zi sha jing haoXianggang sai ma hui ci shan xin tuo ji jin zan zhuTitle from disc label香港中年人士自殺數字不斷增加, 本片從社會心理角度探討中年人輕生的成因及出路. 除邀得過來人分享經驗之外; 談判專家闡釋他們搶救生死邊緣人士的訣竅. 學者專家們更就近年中年人自殺問題作出深入淺出的分析和建議published_or_final_versio

靑少年抑鬱症初探

Subtitle from disc labelAccompanying CD-ROM contains practical guideline for group discussion after viewing the youth video, discussion outline, evaluation form for facilitator and evaluation form for studentXianggang sai ma hui ci shan xin tuo ji jin zan zhuCe hua, Luo Yihua ; bian zhi, Yu YongquanZhu chi: Liang Yilun, Fan Zhenfeng主持: 梁奕倫, 范振鋒策劃, 羅亦華 ; 編製, 余永泉香港賽馬會慈善信託基金贊助中學生自殺問題日益嚴重, 已引起廣泛關注. 不少選擇輕生的靑少年, 都曾出現情緖抑鬱. 因此, 老師, 社工, 家長, 以及學生, 如能認識靑少年抑鬱症的徵狀, 將可及早察覺有需要的靑少年, 並向他們提供轉介及協助. 透過這套錄像, 希望大眾能夠更了解靑少年的抑鬱症, 並且鼓勵遇上困難的靑少年勇於尋求協助published_or_final_versio