Suicide Literacy, Attitudes, and Perceptions toward Suicide among Nursing Students"

This study is a descriptive study aimed at examining the levels of suicide literacy, attitudes toward suicide, and perceptions of suicide among nursing students.Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 156 nursing students enrolled at a four-year university located in G Province.Data were analyzed using SPSS 29.0, with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlations.The results showed that the participants' suicide literacy scores were higher than those in previous studies and varied significantly by age and marital status.Attitudes toward suicide differed significantly by age and religion, with older and religious students holding more negative attitudes toward suicide.Perceptions of suicide were higher among married participants.Correlation analysis revealed no significant relationship between suicide literacy and attitudes or perceptions.However, a negative correlation was found between attitudes and perceptions toward suicide.In other words, more permissive attitudes toward suicide were correlated with lower levels of negative perceptions and suicide-related stigma.Therefore, suicide prevention education should shift from a focus on mere knowledge transmission to an integrated approach that incorporates emotional empathy and cultural sensitivity.It is essential to develop and implement educational programs that enable nursing students to recognize early warning signs of suicide, foster appropriate knowledge and attitudes, and reduce misunderstandings and stigma surrounding suicide to enhance their suicide prevention competencies.