Suicide Ideation and Its Risk Factors among Secondary School Adolescent in Ebonyi State, South East, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Globally, suicidal behaviour is seen as a growing public health problem, However, little is known about the suicide ideation and its risk factors among secondary school adolescent in Ebonyi State. Suicidal thought negatively impacts the quality of life, physical, and mental well-being of the students. However, research on suicide ideation among students in low- and middle-income countries are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore suicide ideation and its risk factors among secondary school adolescent in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey research design was conducted to assess 399 secondary school adolescents in Ebonyi State between January to May 2021. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 399 participants. However, three hundred and ninety-four (394) were properly filled and used for the study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Results:  The findings indicated that student with suicidal ideas, 68.3% are in stressful situation, 65.7% has been absence in school for 3 days consecutively, 62.7% have been disappointed by boy/girl-friend, 59.9% feel disappointed from academic performance, 58.4% have been sad or depressed most of the time, 55.6% have been lonely, and 52.3% felt so sad in a way that the situation was unbearable. The result further shows that the major risk factor of suicidal ideation among secondary school students are cultism (71.3%), alcoholism (56.9%), poverty (61.7%), drug use disorders such as (drug addiction, drug dependence, tolerance) 228 (57.9%), and mental illness (54.8%). Other risk factors identified are mental illness 216 (54.8%), sexual harassment/assault (51.8%), unemployment (51.8%), physical assault/bullying (51.8%), and family history of suicide (50.8%). Conclusions: The study concluded that suicide ideation among students was high and recommended among others that the Nigeria ministry of health both state and federal in collaboration with school management should develop a guideline on how to screen and manage factors associated with suicide ideation among secondary school adolescents.