Correlates of suicide behaviors and co-existing mental health conditions among undergraduate university students in Kenya: A web-based cross-sectional correlation survey

Stella Kemuma Nyagwencha, Ph.D., United States International University-Africa, Kenya., & Samuel O. Ojuade, Ph.D., PsycheBalm Consult, Kenya.

Abstract

The trend of suicide rates among university students has been increasing globally. The purpose of this study was to establish the correlates of suicide behaviors and coexisting mental health conditions among undergraduate university students in Kenya. The study used a web based cross sectional correlation survey conducted among 138 university students in Kenya. A google form was formulated using researcher-generated socio-demographic questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory second edition; Suicide Behavior Questionnaire revised edition, and Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen – Youth to collect data. The prevalence of suicide ideation was at 29.7%, suicide plans was at 48.5% and attempted suicide was at 13.8%. Also, the percentage of participants with clinical depression was 59.2% while Clinical PTSD was 71.8%. A positive correlation was found between suicide behaviour (ideation, plan and attempt) and depression (r = .373^**  p=0.000), a positive correlation between suicide behaviour and PTSD (r = .174^* p = 0.038) and positive correlation between PTSD and depression (r= .395^** P = 0.000). Clinicians need to assess other co-morbidities having screened university students for suicide behaviours. This will help to determine holistic therapeutic approaches to treat university students with suicide behaviours and other co-existing mental health conditions.

Keyword: Correlates, suicide behaviours, comorbidity, co-existing, mental health conditions, undergraduate university students.