Factors that Contribute to Attempted Suicide among Students in the Mahikeng area of the North West Province in SA

The 66th World Health Assembly adopted the first ever Mental Health Action plan of the World Health Organization (WHO, 2013). It was evident that finally mental health has now been taken into consideration just like other non-communicable diseases. Suicide ideation and suicidal behaviors which is the focus of this study are common in the youth population especially among the students. It was observed that high levels of depression, suicidal ideation and hopelessness made participants to be vulnerable and engage in suicidal behaviors. This was observed by the researcher since 2009, working in a health center attached to an institution of Higher Learning that there was a trend of attempted suicide by students, mostly females between ages of 18 and 25 years. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe factors that contribute to attempted suicide among students in the Mafikeng area of the North West Province. The objectives of the study were to explore and describe factors that contribute to suicide among these students in order to make recommendations to support the students at these institutions to cope with such stressors that may lead them to commit suicide.

Author(s): ME Manyedi

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