The purpose of the study was to establish risk factors and prevalence of suicidal behaviour among Kenyan youth due to worrying trend frequently reported suicide cases amongst young people in Kenya.
The occurrence of reported suicide cases amongst young people in Kenya is alarming and yet many cases go unreported in most cultures in Kenya due social stigma associated with suicide. It is worth noting that suicide in Kenya has become more rampant among the youth than adults and that the majority of reported suicide cases happen amongst youth in high schools, colleges and universities.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Literature review
2.1 Mental disorders and suicide
2.2 Family issues and suicide
2.3 Cultural issues and suicide
2.4 Health and suicide
2.5 Psychology and suicide
2.6 Academics and suicide
2.7 Cyber bulling and suicide
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Purpose of the Study
3.2 Objectives and Hypotheses of the Study
3.3 Study Population
3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Technique
3.5 Measures
3.6 Consent for Participants
3.7 Data Analysis
4. Results and Discussions
4. Discussions
4:1 Suicidal behavior and families
4.2 Suicidal behavior and academics
4.3 Suicidal behavior and depression
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations
7. Limitations
8. References
Objectives and Topics of the Study
This study aims to investigate the prevalence of suicidal behavior among Kenyan secondary school students and to identify the risk factors associated with this phenomenon, specifically focusing on family environment, academic stress, and depression.
- Prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts among Kenyan youth.
- Influence of family dysfunctions and parent-child relationships on mental health.
- The role of academic pressure and school-based performance in suicidal tendencies.
- Impact of cyberbullying and modern digital social interactions on student well-being.
- Significance of depression as a primary driver of suicidal behavior in adolescents.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
Suicide is a major health problem, and the global suicide mortality rate amounts to 1.4% of all deaths worldwide. Most suicides are related to psychiatric disease, with depression, substance use disorders and psychosis being the most relevant risk factors (Heu, Bogren, Wong, Brådvik, et al 2018). However, anxiety, personality, eating, and trauma related disorders, as well as organic mental disorders, also contribute.
Suicide is a mental health problem that offers a permanent solution to a temporary problem in a flashflood of negative emotions. Suicide is the result of a convergence of risk factors including but not limited to genetic, psychological, social and cultural risk factors, sometimes combined with experiences of trauma and loss, with depression as the most common mental disorder in people who die by suicide (WHO, 2019). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) during 2019 world suicide prevention day reported that about 800,000 people die from suicide each year (that is one person every 40 seconds), majority of them being youth aged 15-29 year. For every 1 suicide 25 people make a suicide attempt. That has made suicide one of the leading causes of death. It was further revealed by WHO that each year, the proportion of suicides accounts for more deaths than war and homicide combined. Increased suicide cases among young people indicate failure to address growing gaps in mental health services for young people globally.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents an overview of the global suicide crisis, highlighting its impact on youth and the failure of current mental health services to address this growing concern.
2. Literature review: Analyzes existing academic research on risk factors for suicide, including mental disorders, family issues, cultural factors, academic stress, and the emerging threat of cyberbullying.
3. Materials and Methods: Details the cross-sectional survey research design used in Busia County, describing the sampling of students and the statistical methods (SPSS) applied for analysis.
4. Results and Discussions: Presents findings from the correlation analysis, indicating that depression is a significant predictor of suicidal behavior, while also discussing the nuances of family and academic influences.
5. Conclusions: Summarizes the key research findings, emphasizing that depression is the primary significant factor for suicidal behavior in the sampled youth, and suggests the need for school-based interventions.
6. Recommendations: Proposes actionable strategies, such as suicide prevention education, peer gatekeeper programs, and policies to protect youth from cyberbullying.
7. Limitations: Discusses methodological constraints, such as the reliance on self-reported questionnaires and the omission of potential external variables.
8. References: Lists the comprehensive bibliography of studies and reports cited throughout the research.
Keywords
Behaviour, prevalence, risk factors, suicidal behaviour, youth, mental health, depression, academic stress, family dysfunction, suicide ideation, cyberbullying, psychiatry, adolescents, counseling, Kenya
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research study?
The study investigates the prevalence of suicidal behavior among youth in secondary schools in Busia County, Kenya, and examines how specific factors like family dynamics, academic stress, and depression contribute to this issue.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The research explores mental disorders, the role of the family environment, cultural influences, the impact of academic pressure, and the correlation between cyberbullying and suicidal tendencies.
What is the main goal or research question of the work?
The primary aim is to establish the relationship between suicidal behavior and risk factors such as family dysfunction, academic stress, and depression to help inform future mental health programs.
Which scientific methodology was employed?
The authors utilized a cross-sectional survey research design with quantitative data collection from 200 secondary school students, analyzing the results through hierarchical multiple regression and factor analysis using SPSS software.
What does the main body of the document address?
The main body reviews global and regional literature on suicide, details the materials and methods used for local data collection, and discusses the resulting correlations between depression and suicidal ideation.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
The work is characterized by terms such as suicidal behaviour, prevalence, risk factors, youth, mental health, and depression.
Does the study find a direct link between family issues and suicide in the sample?
The study found that, in this specific sample, family variables and academic stress had an insignificant influence on suicidal behavior compared to the impact of depression.
What specific role does cyberbullying play according to the research?
The research highlights that cyberbullying contributes to new-onset psychological symptoms and is a significant risk factor for self-harm and suicidal behaviors among children and young people.
Why is there a limitation regarding the data collection method?
The researchers note that relying exclusively on self-administered student questionnaires can introduce bias, such as "faking bad" or shared opinion, which might affect the accuracy of the associations found.
What practical recommendations does the author offer for schools?
The author recommends implementing suicide prevention education, peer gatekeeper programs to identify at-risk students, and enacting clear policies to protect students from cyberbullying.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dina Were (Autor:in), Joel Ogutu (Autor:in), 2020, Suicidal behaviour among Kenyan youth. Risk factors and prevalence in secondary schools, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/585133
