Current Implementation of and Opinions and Concerns Regarding Suicide Education for Social Work Undergraduate Students in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

This study explored the current implementation status of and opinions and concerns regarding suicide education at schools of social work in Japan. We conducted a survey of faculty members who taught at least one of the social work subjects. About half the respondents had given a lecture of some kind on suicide, and more than 80% agreed that suicide is an important topic to include in social work program curricula. However, more than half indicated they did not have enough knowledge or skills to teach students about suicide, and more than 60% were concerned about adverse psychological effects of suicide education on students. Our findings highlight the importance of providing faculty members with guidelines for teaching students about suicide.

Funding

This work was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grant No. 25380838.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grant No. 25380838.

Notes on contributors

Manami Kodaka

Manami Kodaka is Research Fellow of Institute of Grief Care at Sophia University. Emi Hikitsuchi is Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Michiko Takai is Visiting Lecturer of Department of Emergency Medicine at Saitama Medical University. Sumie Okada is a member of Japan Social Worker Association for Alcohol Related Problems. Yasue Watanabe is a research volunteer of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Kiyoko Fukushima is Professor of Department of Integrated Human Studies at Japan Lutheran College. Mistuhiko Yamada is Director of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Masatoshi Inagaki is Senior Assistant Professor of Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital. Tadashi Takeshima is Director of Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare. Toshihiko Matsumoto is Director of Department of Drug Dependence Research at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.

Emi Hikitsuchi

Manami Kodaka is Research Fellow of Institute of Grief Care at Sophia University. Emi Hikitsuchi is Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Michiko Takai is Visiting Lecturer of Department of Emergency Medicine at Saitama Medical University. Sumie Okada is a member of Japan Social Worker Association for Alcohol Related Problems. Yasue Watanabe is a research volunteer of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Kiyoko Fukushima is Professor of Department of Integrated Human Studies at Japan Lutheran College. Mistuhiko Yamada is Director of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Masatoshi Inagaki is Senior Assistant Professor of Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital. Tadashi Takeshima is Director of Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare. Toshihiko Matsumoto is Director of Department of Drug Dependence Research at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.

Michiko Takai

Manami Kodaka is Research Fellow of Institute of Grief Care at Sophia University. Emi Hikitsuchi is Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Michiko Takai is Visiting Lecturer of Department of Emergency Medicine at Saitama Medical University. Sumie Okada is a member of Japan Social Worker Association for Alcohol Related Problems. Yasue Watanabe is a research volunteer of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Kiyoko Fukushima is Professor of Department of Integrated Human Studies at Japan Lutheran College. Mistuhiko Yamada is Director of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Masatoshi Inagaki is Senior Assistant Professor of Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital. Tadashi Takeshima is Director of Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare. Toshihiko Matsumoto is Director of Department of Drug Dependence Research at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.

Sumie Okada

Manami Kodaka is Research Fellow of Institute of Grief Care at Sophia University. Emi Hikitsuchi is Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Michiko Takai is Visiting Lecturer of Department of Emergency Medicine at Saitama Medical University. Sumie Okada is a member of Japan Social Worker Association for Alcohol Related Problems. Yasue Watanabe is a research volunteer of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Kiyoko Fukushima is Professor of Department of Integrated Human Studies at Japan Lutheran College. Mistuhiko Yamada is Director of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Masatoshi Inagaki is Senior Assistant Professor of Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital. Tadashi Takeshima is Director of Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare. Toshihiko Matsumoto is Director of Department of Drug Dependence Research at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.

Yasue Watanabe

Manami Kodaka is Research Fellow of Institute of Grief Care at Sophia University. Emi Hikitsuchi is Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Michiko Takai is Visiting Lecturer of Department of Emergency Medicine at Saitama Medical University. Sumie Okada is a member of Japan Social Worker Association for Alcohol Related Problems. Yasue Watanabe is a research volunteer of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Kiyoko Fukushima is Professor of Department of Integrated Human Studies at Japan Lutheran College. Mistuhiko Yamada is Director of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Masatoshi Inagaki is Senior Assistant Professor of Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital. Tadashi Takeshima is Director of Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare. Toshihiko Matsumoto is Director of Department of Drug Dependence Research at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.

Kiyoko Fukushima

Manami Kodaka is Research Fellow of Institute of Grief Care at Sophia University. Emi Hikitsuchi is Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Michiko Takai is Visiting Lecturer of Department of Emergency Medicine at Saitama Medical University. Sumie Okada is a member of Japan Social Worker Association for Alcohol Related Problems. Yasue Watanabe is a research volunteer of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Kiyoko Fukushima is Professor of Department of Integrated Human Studies at Japan Lutheran College. Mistuhiko Yamada is Director of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Masatoshi Inagaki is Senior Assistant Professor of Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital. Tadashi Takeshima is Director of Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare. Toshihiko Matsumoto is Director of Department of Drug Dependence Research at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.

Mitsuhiko Yamada

Manami Kodaka is Research Fellow of Institute of Grief Care at Sophia University. Emi Hikitsuchi is Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Michiko Takai is Visiting Lecturer of Department of Emergency Medicine at Saitama Medical University. Sumie Okada is a member of Japan Social Worker Association for Alcohol Related Problems. Yasue Watanabe is a research volunteer of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Kiyoko Fukushima is Professor of Department of Integrated Human Studies at Japan Lutheran College. Mistuhiko Yamada is Director of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Masatoshi Inagaki is Senior Assistant Professor of Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital. Tadashi Takeshima is Director of Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare. Toshihiko Matsumoto is Director of Department of Drug Dependence Research at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.

Masatoshi Inagaki

Manami Kodaka is Research Fellow of Institute of Grief Care at Sophia University. Emi Hikitsuchi is Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Michiko Takai is Visiting Lecturer of Department of Emergency Medicine at Saitama Medical University. Sumie Okada is a member of Japan Social Worker Association for Alcohol Related Problems. Yasue Watanabe is a research volunteer of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Kiyoko Fukushima is Professor of Department of Integrated Human Studies at Japan Lutheran College. Mistuhiko Yamada is Director of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Masatoshi Inagaki is Senior Assistant Professor of Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital. Tadashi Takeshima is Director of Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare. Toshihiko Matsumoto is Director of Department of Drug Dependence Research at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.

Tadashi Takeshima

Manami Kodaka is Research Fellow of Institute of Grief Care at Sophia University. Emi Hikitsuchi is Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Michiko Takai is Visiting Lecturer of Department of Emergency Medicine at Saitama Medical University. Sumie Okada is a member of Japan Social Worker Association for Alcohol Related Problems. Yasue Watanabe is a research volunteer of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Kiyoko Fukushima is Professor of Department of Integrated Human Studies at Japan Lutheran College. Mistuhiko Yamada is Director of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Masatoshi Inagaki is Senior Assistant Professor of Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital. Tadashi Takeshima is Director of Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare. Toshihiko Matsumoto is Director of Department of Drug Dependence Research at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.

Toshihiko Matsumoto

Manami Kodaka is Research Fellow of Institute of Grief Care at Sophia University. Emi Hikitsuchi is Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Michiko Takai is Visiting Lecturer of Department of Emergency Medicine at Saitama Medical University. Sumie Okada is a member of Japan Social Worker Association for Alcohol Related Problems. Yasue Watanabe is a research volunteer of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Kiyoko Fukushima is Professor of Department of Integrated Human Studies at Japan Lutheran College. Mistuhiko Yamada is Director of Department of Neuropsychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. Masatoshi Inagaki is Senior Assistant Professor of Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital. Tadashi Takeshima is Director of Kawasaki City Center for Mental Health and Welfare. Toshihiko Matsumoto is Director of Department of Drug Dependence Research at National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.