Perceived Suicidal Behaviour and Risk Factors among Students in a Selected Nigerian University

Abstract

The study investigated perceived suicidal behaviour and rick factors among undergraduate students in a selected Nigerian University. Four specific objectives with their corresponding research questions, and one null hypothesis guided the study. It was a cross-sectional survey. The population of the study consisted of all male and female students of (Medicine, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Nursing) who were admitted in 2014/2015 session in College of Health Sciences in Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State Nigeria. A sample size of 85 respondents were selected from a population of 245 students by multistage sampling technique in three stages. Data were collected using a valid and reliable structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Chi-square statistics was used to test the hypothesis at 0.5 level of significance. Results revealed that of the fourteen listed suicidal risk factors, two factors scored less than 1.5, the remaining twelve factors were perceived by the respondents as risk factors associated with suicidal behaviour. On the perceived institution role for suicidal behaviour and risk prevention, prevention efforts should aim at ban on students’ possession of weapons of self-destruction (mean=1.79), and the parents/guardians should teach their children suicide risks and behaviours before enrolling into university programmes (mean=1.60) were the most significant. On the hypothesis, Counsellors should conduct face-to-face screening evaluation of students to identify those at risk and plan preventive programmes for them (0.3). However, there is need for both parental and institution’s involvement in the prevention of the risk factors and suicidal behaviours among the undergraduate students, and parents lecturers should show more love and tolerance to their undergraduate students even if they fail their examination.