Prevalenceof Suicide Ideation among University Students: A Case of Nyanza Region, Kenya

Abstract

Cases of completed suicide have been on the rise among university students in recent past. The study focused on the prevalence of suicide ideation among university students in Nyanza region with an aim of preventing ideation from reaching completion. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of suicideideation among university studentsand to compare the prevalence of suicide ideation in relation to university and year of study. The study was guided by Three Step Theory of Suicide (3ST). Correlational research design was employed. Purposive sampling was used to select four public universities from Nyanza region. Stratified sampling was used to select undergraduate students and thereafter simple random sampling was used to select 1477 students with the guidance of sample size table by Cohen, Manion and Morrison. Data were collected using student questionnaire, interview schedule and existing counseling records and data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V20, 2023). Descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages were generated and quantitative data were analyzed using chi square at .05 level of significance. The study findings indicated that suicide ideation is prevalent among university students (23.6%). The prevalence differs depending on the university (x2=p<.05) but the prevalence was not related to the year of study (p>.05). Thestudy recommends that university counselling department should create more awareness on the issue of suicide, its effects and how students can cope with challenges so as to prevent suicidal thoughts