Teachers’ Knowledge in Mitigating Suicide and Attitudes Toward Suicide: Basis for Intervention Plant

Abstract

  This study aimed to determine the teachers’ knowledge in mitigating suicide and the attitudes toward suicide of the Public Secondary School teachers of General Mamerto Natividad District, Division of Nueva Ecija during the school year 2024-2025.The study utilized descriptive-correlational research design utilizing a researcher-made instrument on socio-demographic profile and two (2) adapted instruments namely Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS) and Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS). The data gathered were tabulated and analyzed using Spearman’s Rho to determine the strength and direction of association between variables. Results revealed that teachers possess a level of understanding about suicide mitigation that goes beyond foundational knowledge but lack comprehensive and detailed understanding of the matter. Female teachers showed higher level of knowledge on suicide mitigation compered to their counterparts. Teachers, especially those who are older, who are holding higher positions, and who spent more years in teaching, demonstrate a high degree of social stigma directed towards suicide which denotes that they hold strong negative and discriminatory attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward individuals who died by suicide as well as towards the topic of suicide itself. Hence, the Intervention Plan is proposed based on the result of the respondents’ evaluation.  The intervention plan can be useful to improve the teachers’ knowledge in mitigating suicide and to lessen the stigma towards suicide, thus it is recommended by the researcher to use the intervention plan by teachers and school administrators as it will lead to enhanced and improved Guidance Services in school. The proposed intervention plan is further recommended to be adapted by the public secondary schools in General Mamerto Natividad to guide the school’s Guidance Designate in conducting mental health activities in their respective schools.