Key messages for suicide prevention media campaigns in Iran: findings from a Delphi study

Worldwide and among 15-29-year-olds suicide have considered as the third leading cause of death. This study aims to provide key messages for suicide prevention campaigns for Iranian population.

Delphi method was used as the methodological framework based on questionnaires completed by two groups i.e. researchers and psychologists/psychiatrists (Stage two). The Content Validity Ratio (CVR) index of the questionnaire was initially evaluated (Stage one).

In stage one, questionnaires were completed by 15 researchers (13 males) and since CVR of all messages was not under 49%, so all messages of the questionnaire were left to be filled in the second stage. In stage two,130 participants of the psychologists/psychiatrists group (40 males) and 30 researchers (20 males) completed the questionnaires. At the second stage, Pearson's coefficient was r=0.661, indicating a high correlation between the subjects' perspectives. The intra-class coefficient (ICC) for the psychologists/psychiatrists and researchers groups were 0.949 and 0.971 respectively, indicating high agreement among members of each group. It was important for both groups to take suicide communications seriously, listen to suicidal person, encourage the person at risk to openly discuss their feelings and suicide desires, encourage them to contact crisis hotlines, make lethal means of suicide unavailable in case of planning for suicide, and assure them that they are safe.

There was significant intra- and inter-class agreement on ranking media campaign messages. The highest rated messages can be used in a suicide prevention media campaign to encourage increased suicide risk recognition. Additionally, it may promote appropriate supportive measures.