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Methods: This report represents the first wave data of an ongoing longitudinal study, Shandong Rural Adolescent Behavior & Health (SRABH). In November-December 2015, participants completed a structured adolescent health questionnaire to obtain information about lifetime and last-year ST, SP, SA, age of first suicide attempt, method and medical treatment of most recent suicide attempt, suicide intent and preparatory action, psychosocial and demographical characteristics.
Results: Participants included 11,836 adolescent students from 3 rural counties of Shandong, China. Mean age of participants was 15.0 (SD=1.5) and 51% were boys.Of the sample, 17.6% of boys and 23.5% girls had ever had ST, 10.7% and 14.7% had ST in the last year; 8.9% and 10.7% had ever had SP, 2.9% and 3.8% had SP in the last year; and 3.4% and 4.6% had ever had SA, 1.3% and 1.8% had SA in the last year. Suicidal behavior significantly increased with age. More than 80% of adolescents who had SP or SA had ever had ST. The mean age of first SA was 12.3 in boys and 12.6 in girls. Stabbing/cutting was the most common method to attempt suicide (62% in girls and 39% in boys). Approximately 24% of male attempters were medically treated, and 6.5% were hospitalized, while 16% of female attempters were medically treated and 2.6% were hospitalized. More than 70% of suicide attempters had no preparatory action to attempt suicide.
Conclusions: Suicidal behavior is prevalent and increases with age in rural Chinese adolescents. Most adolescents attempted their first suicide at 12 years. Although girls are more likely to attempt suicide, male attempters are more likely to be medically treated and hospitalized. Suicidal thought was strongly associated with suicide attempts. These findings highlight the importance of early screening and intervention of rural Chinese adolescents at risk of suicide.