Prevalence Rates of Depression, Hopelessness, Emotional Stability and Suicide among Secondary School Students in Nyamira and Kisii Counties, Kenya
- August 15, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VIII, August 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186
Callen Nyamwange, Roselyne Nyamoita & Debora Nyambane
Kisii University, Kenya
Abstract: – Suicide is a desperate attempt to escape suffering that has become unbearable. Blinded by feelings of self-loathing, hopelessness, and isolation, a suicidal person can’t see any way of finding relief except through death. But despite their desire for the pain to stop, most suicidal people are deeply conflicted about ending their own lives. They wish there was an alternative to suicide, but they just can’t see one. Globally, suicide rates are highest in people aged 70 years and over. In some countries, however, the highest rates are found among the young. Worryingly, suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29 year olds globally. Suicide has become a menace in Kenya with rates going high by the day. This study was carried out among the Gusii people of Kenya which targeted secondary school students. The purpose of this study is to establish if students of secondary school have social interactions, friends, peers, relationships and feel burdensome to parents by secondary school students as this are predictors of suicide. The study utilized a qualitative research design and data was collected by use of questionnaires and data was analyzed by use of simple percentages The study revealed that majority of the students 70% of the respondents said that they spend time with friends at home and at school and 21% do not enjoy spending time with family or even with friends whereas 9% remained neutral. On how they feel with their peers 40 (26%) feel comfortable majority 99 (66%) do not like the idea of being with peers. The study gave recommendations based on the findings of what needs to be done to reduce the predictors of suicide.
Key words: Suicide, Student, Peer, Relationship, Family, Friendship
I. BACKGROUND
Hopelessness is one of the most commonly cited risk factors for suicidal behaviors. One of the most oft-cited risk factors for suicidal behavior is hopelessness. First formulated by Beck (1967), the hopelessness theory of suicide states that hopelessness – a negative attribution style about prospects for the future – leads depressed individuals to view suicide as the only way out of insoluble problems. Hopelessness is thus conceptualized as an important cognitive vulnerability for suicide.
