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Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Background

Little is known about the reasons for suicidal behaviour in Africa, and communities’ perception of suicide prevention. A contextualised understanding of these reasons is important in guiding the implementation of potential suicide prevention interventions in specific settings.

Aims

To understand ideas, experiences and opinions on reasons contributing to suicidal behaviour in the Coast region of Kenya, and provide recommendations for suicide prevention.

Method

We conducted a qualitative study with various groups of key informants residing in the Coast region of Kenya, using in-depth interviews. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and translated from the local language before thematic inductive content analysis.

Results

From the 25 in-depth interviews, we identified four key themes as reasons given for suicidal behaviour: interpersonal and relationship problems, financial and economic difficulties, mental health conditions and religious and cultural influences. These reasons were observed to be interrelated with each other and well-aligned to the suggested recommendations for suicide prevention. We found six key recommendations from our thematic content analysis: (a) increasing access to counselling and social support, (b) improving mental health awareness and skills training, (c) restriction of suicide means, (d) decriminalisation of suicide, (e) economic and education empowerment and (f) encouraging religion and spirituality.

Conclusions

The reasons for suicidal behaviour are comparable with high-income countries, but suggested prevention strategies are more contextualised to our setting. A multifaceted approach in preventing suicide in (coastal) Kenya is warranted based on the varied reasons suggested. Community-based interventions will likely improve and increase access to suicide prevention in this study area.

Details

Title
Perspectives on reasons for suicidal behaviour and recommendations for suicide prevention in Kenya: qualitative study
Author
Linnet Ongeri 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Nyawira, Miriam 2 ; Kariuki, Symon M 3 ; Bitta, Mary 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Schubart, Chris 5 ; Brenda W J H Penninx 6 ; Charles R J C Newton 4 ; Tijdink, Joeri K 7 

 Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya 
 Neuroscience Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya 
 Neuroscience Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya and Department of Public Health, Pwani University, Nairobi, Kenya 
 Neuroscience Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya and Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK 
 Division of Mental Health, Tergooi Medical Centre, Hilversum, The Netherlands 
 Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands 
 Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands and Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, VU Universiteit, The Netherlands 
Section
Paper
Publication year
2023
Publication date
Mar 2023
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
e-ISSN
20564724
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2777166144
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.