PERSPECTIVE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ON SUICIDE IDEATION AND ITS ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN OGUN STATE

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the perspective of college students on suicide ideation and its associated risk factors in Ogun state. The study adopted an ex post facto research design type. The study included all three hundred level students (NCE III) from the two public colleges of education in Ogun State. The study's participants were chosen through a multistage sampling technique. The instruments used for data collection were the Personality Trait Inventory, Student Academic Stress Scale (SASS) and Suicidal Ideation Attribute Scale and factors. All the three instruments were adapted questionnaires designed to assess factors accounted for suicidal ideation among undergraduate students. Results from the study indicated that females were more in number than males (168/62.2%; 102/37.7%). Also, the Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience some of the major factors responsible for suicidal ideation among undergraduates. Low self-esteem, environmental factors and interpersonal were selected by the majority of students in this study [R = 0.682, R = 0.346, Adj. R = 0.345]; [F(4,265)= 7.93, p < 0.05] causing suicidal ideation among colleges of education students. Recommendations were therefore made among others that factors associate with suicide ideation such as academic stress, family dysfunction and economic losses of livestock, and devastation of agricultural land among other environmental risk factors that contribute to this serious issue are on the alarming rate and is of public health concern to curb this menace among students.