Prediction of self-destructive behaviour among Makerere University students

Student suicides at Makerere University have occurred sporadically and no systematic programme of suicide prevention has been developed. In addition, no clear guidelines have been worked out to guide the operations of the university counselling centre. A study on the possible predictability of suicide behaviour among students was conducted from October 1992 to June 1995. Study objectives included the identification of possible characteristics of suicidal students; the determination of the proportion of students who will seek counselling services at the university hospital in the course of their studies; and the identification of characteristics of counsellees. Study participants were the entire group of the 1992/93 academic year intake. Six hundred and nineteen students consented to complete a self-administered questionnaire, especially designed to identify suicidal and or depressed persons. The students were then followed up for three years during which data on student attendance at the counselling centre were collected. The results were analysed using the EPI INFO computer software. The results indicated that some students (at least 5.5%) who enrolled at Makerere university annually will probably require counselling services in the course of their studies; and it is possible to recognise students who might require counselling services early at the time of their enrollment at the university. The following recommendations are made to improve counselling services for students: all students should be inducted at the time of their entry into the university; counselling services should be made attractive to students; students should be involved in providing counselling services, particularly at emergency level; a prompt and attractive referral system for students requiring psychiatric care should be established; a telephone hot-line to be managed by the students should be established and; further research is needed to improve counselling services for students at Makerere university.