A study of social network of suicide attempters in University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur

• Main Author: Nor, Z.Z.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2000
• Subjects: R Medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/2081/1/3.pdf; http://eprints.um.edu.my/2081/; http://myais.fsktm.um.edu.my/7479/

Poor social support is associated with significant increased suicide risk. In thisstudy, 60 suicide attempters were assessed on their socio demographic characteristics and psychiatric diagnoses. Social support was rated by usingThe Interview Schedule of Social Interaction (ISSI) scale in relation to the social characteristics and the psychiatric diagnoses. The results showed that femaleswere more preponderance than males and the females had poor social interactionas compared to the males. The Indians were still over represented and the proportion of Malays attempted suicide had increased. Poor access to social integration was significantly more often amongst the Hindus than all the otherreligions. Suicide attempters from the urban areas and who lived with small number of people had poor social interaction. Patients diagnosed to have anadjustment disorder more often had insufficient deep emotional relationships.In conclusion, social support or network is an important factor to be evaluatedas part of the management plan for suicide attempters.