A study on suicide prevention for middle-aged men according to characteristics of their help-seeking behaviors.

• Project/Area Number: 15K21274
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Hygiene and public health; Clinical psychology
• Research Institution: University of Niigata Prefecture
• Principal Investigator: Katsumata Yotaro 新潟県立大学, 人間生活学部, 准教授 (30624936)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,640,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥840,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: 自殺予防 / 中高年 / 地域精神保健 / 中高年男性 / 援助要請

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study clarified the association between suicide-related behaviors and help-seeking behaviors according to demographic factors (ex. marital status, employment situations) among Japanese middle-aged men using a web survey. In addition, the qualitative data was collected to clarify the processes of getting the middle aged-men with socioeconomic risk factors (e.g. debt, employment problem) to the professional assistances.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

わが国では、中高年男性を対象とした自殺予防および援助要請の研究は過去にほとんど行われておらず、本研究の成果は、両研究領域における研究対象の拡大と実証研究の蓄積という観点で意義が大きい。また、援助要請場面の文脈を重視した定性的研究を実施したという点において、従来の研究を発展させることができた。
本研究の成果は、依然としてわが国の自殺死亡の主要層である中高年男性の自殺予防対策を進める上で、貴重な基礎的データとして活用が期待される。