Owusu-Ansah Frances Emily, Addae Akua Afriyie, Peasah Bernice Ofosuhene, Oppong Asante Kwaku, Osafo Joseph
Counselling Centre, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Department of Behavioural Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Health Psychol Behav Med. 2020 Jun 5;8(1):220-233. doi: 10.1080/21642850.2020.1766978.
Research evidence on suicide in Ghana so far has focused mostly on suicide in the adult population and less work on the younger population such as university students and other vulnerable groups such as children, youth and the aged. This study was conducted to determine lifetime and current prevalence of suicidal ideation or attempts and identify the associated risks and protective factors among university students in Ghana. Using a cross-sectional design, 1003 university students (507 males and 496 females) with a mean age of 20.5 years (SD = 5.95) were administered questionnaires that measured suicide, psychological distress, self-esteem and subjective wellbeing. We found the following prevalence rates of suicidal behaviours: ideations 15.2%, attempted 6.3%, death wishes 24.3% and suicidal plan 6.8%. Psychological distress was a risk factor for both suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt. Subjective wellbeing was protective of suicide attempt while self-esteem was protective of suicidal ideation. These findings underscore the need for school-based mental health-promoting programmes that enhance young people's self-esteem, reduce psychological distress and boost subjective wellbeing.
迄今为止，关于加纳自杀问题的研究证据主要集中在成年人自杀方面，而针对年轻人群体（如大学生）以及其他弱势群体（如儿童、青年和老年人）的研究较少。本研究旨在确定加纳大学生自杀意念或自杀未遂的终生患病率和当前患病率，并识别相关的风险因素和保护因素。采用横断面设计，对1003名平均年龄为20.5岁（标准差=5.95）的大学生（507名男性和496名女性）进行问卷调查，内容包括自杀、心理困扰、自尊和主观幸福感。我们发现自杀行为的患病率如下：意念15.2%，未遂6.3%，死亡愿望24.3%，自杀计划6.8%。心理困扰是自杀意念和自杀未遂的风险因素。主观幸福感对自杀未遂有保护作用，而自尊对自杀意念有保护作用。这些发现强调了开展以学校为基础的心理健康促进项目的必要性，这些项目可以提高年轻人的自尊，减少心理困扰，增强主观幸福感。
