A Study to Assess the Knowledge on the Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation and Prevention of Suicide among Adolescents at Selected Higher Secondary Schools in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh

India today has a largest population of adolescents in the world. The future of India is shaped by this generation. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15 to 25 years old age group. Suicide is one of the crudest expressions of social phenomenon and is the act of deliberately ending one’s own life. Suicide is a preventable cause of death, it becomes vital to strengthen ongoing efforts to implement effective suicide intervention. Early identification and effective management of suicidal ideation and behavior are paramount to saving lives. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge regarding risk factors of suicidal ideation and suicide prevention among adolescents in selected higher secondary schools in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. Systematic random sampling method was adapted to select sample of 250 adolescents. The data collection was done through self administered structured knowledge questionnaire. Data obtained was tabulated and analyzed in terms of objectives of the study using descriptive and inferential statistics. The data showed that majority 199 (79.6 %) had inadequate knowledge, 49 (19.6 %) had moderate knowledge and 2 (0.8 %) had adequate knowledge with mean score value 5.0960. There was statistically significant association with their demographic variables such as gender, geographical background, education of father, medium of education, father’s occupation, mother’s occupation, class of study, have you heard about suicide and its prevention and if ‘yes’ what is the source of the information.