2025/04/22 by Onyechi, Chinonso, Adeniji, Folu
#Adolescents #Secondary schools #Suicidal behaviours #coping mechanism
paper · doi:10.71637/tnhj.v25i1.1017
Objectives: Suicidal thoughts among adolescents represent a significant public health concern, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and the coping mechanisms employed by secondary school adolescents in Rivers State, Nigeria, with a comparison between urban and rural areas. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 1,680 secondary school students. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), and the Brief COPE Questionnaire and analyzed with SPSSVs 25. Results: The study found that 26.5% of respondents reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, with a slightly higher prevalence in rural areas (26.9%) compared to urban areas (26.0%). Coping methods in the rural were self-denial, substance use behavioural disengagement, venting, humour, acceptance, use of instrumental support, positive reframing, and planning; while the urban areas were seen to demonstrate self-distraction, self-denial, venting, humour, positive reframing, and high intention. The most prevalent type of coping method in both areas was emotion-focused coping. There was a very high intent to seek help among respondents in both areas with suicidal thoughts. Similarly, those in rural and urban schools were 5.95 and 5.88 times more likely to seek help than those who did not have suicidal thoughts and these observed differences were statistically significant p<0.05 Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address the unique challenges faced by adolescents in different settings, aiming to reduce the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and promote healthier coping strategies.