Development of a Depression and Suicide Surveillance Program Among Upper Secondary School Students Chalermphrakiat District, Buriram Province
Abstract
Depression and suicide among adolescents are major public health concerns globally and nationally. In Chalermphrakiat District, Buriram Province, upper secondary school students have shown increasing trends of depressive symptoms and suicide attempts. This research employed a research and development design with the objective of evaluating the effectiveness of a depression and suicide surveillance program for upper secondary school students. The sample consisted of 270 students who screened positive for depressive symptoms between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026. Research instruments included: (1) a general information questionnaire, (2) the Thai version of the CES-D, (3) the 9Q depression scale, (4) the 8Q suicide risk assessment, (5) a beliefs and attitudes toward suicide questionnaire, (6) a social support assessment, and (7) a group cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) program. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests with a significance level of 0.05.
Results showed that post-intervention 9Q scores significantly decreased (t = 12.50, p < 0.001), with further reduction at the 3-month follow-up (t = 14.20, p < 0.001). Students’ beliefs regarding suicide improved significantly (t = 7.10, p < 0.001), as did attitudes toward helping individuals at risk (t = 6.85, p < 0.001). Perceived social support from families, peers, and teachers increased significantly across all domains (p < 0.001).
In conclusion, the integrated surveillance system combined with group CBT effectively reduced depressive symptoms, improved suicide-related beliefs, and enhanced social support among students. The program demonstrates strong potential for adoption as a sustainable school-based mental health intervention.
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