A retrospect on prevalences of suicidality and its gender significance

Abstract

Suicide report is becoming a recurring occurrence and reported cases are on the increase in Nigeria, and a higher number involved in the process of suicidality, which is a red flag for eventual suicide. Hence these study “A retrospect on prevalences of suicidality and its gender significance”. The descriptive survey design was used and the instrument was a questionnaire adapted from a validated questionnaire, which measured the stages of suicidal behaviour. This was administered on a sample size of 1,000 respondents. The population was undergr aduates of universities in Nigeria. Research questions were generated on suicidal ideation, suicidal planning and suicidal attempt. Mean and standard deviation was used in analyzing the data. The results of research question on prevalence of suicidal ideation between genders revealed that frequency of ideation is more with the female. The prevalence of suicidal planning between gender also showed a differing probability between the male and female. It is recommended that Gender specific suicide prevention and intervention programmes should be provided by institutions of higher learning.