Prevalence of Suicide Ideation and its Gender Distribution Among Undergraduate of University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Prevalence of Suicide Ideation and its Gender Distribution Among Undergraduate of University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
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Date
2022
Authors
Lawer, Theresa Dede
Adom-Mensah, Benedicta Ama
Omotosho, Joshua A.
Bentil, Josephine Anterkyi
Akoto, Justina Sarpong Akoto
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Advanced Psychology
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to find out the prevalence of suicide ideation among
undergraduate students of the University of Cape Coast and the gender distribution of suicide
ideation among them.
Methodology: This study was a quantitative one and it used the quasi-experimental research
design, specifically, the pre-test, post-test and control group design. A total of 30
undergraduate students from four colleges of the University of Cape Coast in the Central
Region of Ghana was non-randomly assigned to two treatment groups, Individual Psychology
and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (IP and CBT) and one control group. Beck Scale for
Suicide Ideation was used for the collection of data for the study. Descriptive Statistics such as
frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the data.
Findings: Results showed that two out of every 15 UCC undergraduate students experience
suicide ideation continuously and persistently. Again, the rate at which female students think
suicidal, that is, have suicidal ideas, is higher than the male students. In other words, female
undergraduate students of University of Cape Coast experience suicide ideation more than their
male counterparts. It was concluded that suicide ideation is prevalent, 13.3%, among
undergraduate students of UCC.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Based on the findings, it was
recommended that constant screening of suicide ideation be made part of the University’s
program and the Counselling Centre should be mandated to organise the screening exercise.
This will help educate and create more awareness on suicide ideation and offer more people,
per the screening, the opportunity to benefit from the therapies.
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Citation
Adom-Mensah, B. A., Bentil, J. A., Lawer, T. D., Akoto, J. S., & Omotoshoe, J. A. (2022). Prevalence of Suicide Ideation and its Gender Distribution Among Undergraduate of University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. Journal of Advanced Psychology, 4(1), 43-53.