SUICIDE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN KENYA: CAUSES, IMPLICATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

Suicide is against the law in Kenya. The existence of suicide phenomena in the society is a major issue that needs to be looked into with a lot of concern, and creating effective preventative measure is a matter of urgency. Knowledge concerning suicide is largely limited. The majority of people in the society treat suicide cases as mental health issues. There is therefore need to study and examine the causes of suicide, its implications, and the preventative measures necessary in controlling the phenomena in the society, especially amongst the university and college students in Kenya. The study tries to establish risk factors leading to suicidal behavior, the impact of suicide on the family and society and recommended methods of prevention. All these areas of concern are an integral part in dealing with suicide and suicidal behavior. The research establishes the different roles society has to play towards control, prevention and intervention. Looking at the data available there is no credible information concerning the rate of suicide in the country.

Key words: Suicide, student, Suicide behavior, university, behavior