Abstract
Suicide is a significant concern globally, although research among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries remains scarce. This study aims to investigate gender differences and the factors that can contribute to Vietnamese adolescents’ intention to seek help when experiencing suicidal thoughts. A total of 2,976 adolescents reported their level of suicidal ideation, suicide literacy, attitudes toward suicidal individuals, and preferred sources of help. One third of them experienced suicidal ideation. Mean suicide literacy was generally low but was lower in males. Low suicide literacy also correlated with higher level of suicide stigmatization, and males reported more stigmatization towards suicidal individuals. As expected, adolescents sought help from families and friends more than from professionals. Contrasting to our hypothesis, being male, having more stigma, and less suicidal ideation predicted more help seeking intention. The results of this study highlight the importance of careful suicide prevention and intervention strategies for this population.