Factors that contribute to attempted suicide among students in the Mafikeng area of the North West Province

Suicide ideation and suicidal behaviours 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 to suicidal behaviours. This was observed by the researcher since 2009 that there was a trend of attempted suicide by students in the Mafikeng area. Females between ages of 18 and 35 years were mostly affected. The objectives of the study were to explore and describe factors that contribute to attempted suicide among the students in the Mafikeng sub-district of the North West Province as well as to make recommendations in order to support these students at their institutions to cope with their stressors. The study was qualitative, descriptive and explorative. Permission was obtained from the University Research Committee to conduct the study and from the institutions of Higher Learning where the study was conducted. Purposeful sampling was undertaken to get a sample from the population of students who attempted suicide in the Mafikeng area of the NWP. Data was collected by means of in-depth individual interviews in order to explore and describe factors that contributed to their attempted suicide. Data analysis was done according to Tesch's content analysis method. Ethical issues were adhered to according to the ethical standards for nurse researchers. Trustworthiness of the study followed the criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability, conformability as well as authenticity. Results after in-depth individual interviews and data analysis yielded four categories namely, stress due to financial factors, stress due to social factors, stress due to psychological factors and stress leading to mental problems. Conclusions were made based on the results included as factors contributing to attempted suicide amongst the students. Limitations have been acknowledged. Recommendations were made for nursing education, nursing research and nursing practice, particularly for nurses working at higher learning institutions.

Grantor dc:publisher

North-West University

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Motasi, K.M.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Manyedi, M.E., Prof

• Attempted suicide
• higher learning institutions
• students

Language dc:language.iso

en

Identifier URI

0000-0002-4921-2165

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.nwu.ac.za:10394/31176