TY - JOUR
T1 - Suicide among university students
T2 - prevalence, risks and protective factors
AU - Owusu-Ansah, Frances Emily
AU - Addae, Akua Afriyie
AU - Peasah, Bernice Ofosuhene
AU - Oppong Asante, Kwaku
AU - Osafo, Joseph
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2020/1/1
Y1 - 2020/1/1
N2 - Background: Research evidence on suicide in Ghana so far has focused mostly on suicide in the adult population and less work on the younger population such as university students and other vulnerable groups such as children, youth and the aged. Aims: This study was conducted to determine lifetime and current prevalence of suicidal ideation or attempts and identify the associated risks and protective factors among university students in Ghana. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 1003 university students (507 males and 496 females) with a mean age of 20.5 years (SD = 5.95) were administered questionnaires that measured suicide, psychological distress, self-esteem and subjective wellbeing. Results: We found the following prevalence rates of suicidal behaviours: ideations 15.2%, attempted 6.3%, death wishes 24.3% and suicidal plan 6.8%. Psychological distress was a risk factor for both suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt. Subjective wellbeing was protective of suicide attempt while self-esteem was protective of suicidal ideation. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for school-based mental health-promoting programmes that enhance young people’s self-esteem, reduce psychological distress and boost subjective wellbeing.
AB - Background: Research evidence on suicide in Ghana so far has focused mostly on suicide in the adult population and less work on the younger population such as university students and other vulnerable groups such as children, youth and the aged. Aims: This study was conducted to determine lifetime and current prevalence of suicidal ideation or attempts and identify the associated risks and protective factors among university students in Ghana. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 1003 university students (507 males and 496 females) with a mean age of 20.5 years (SD = 5.95) were administered questionnaires that measured suicide, psychological distress, self-esteem and subjective wellbeing. Results: We found the following prevalence rates of suicidal behaviours: ideations 15.2%, attempted 6.3%, death wishes 24.3% and suicidal plan 6.8%. Psychological distress was a risk factor for both suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt. Subjective wellbeing was protective of suicide attempt while self-esteem was protective of suicidal ideation. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for school-based mental health-promoting programmes that enhance young people’s self-esteem, reduce psychological distress and boost subjective wellbeing.
KW - Ghana
KW - Suicide
KW - protective factors
KW - risk
KW - university students
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086659871&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/21642850.2020.1766978
DO - 10.1080/21642850.2020.1766978
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85086659871
SN - 2164-2850
VL - 8
SP - 220
EP - 233
JO - Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
JF - Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
IS - 1
ER -