GUARDIANS OF ADOLESCENT MINDS: SCHOOL COUNSELORS' ROLE IN MITIGATING SUICIDE RISK IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

The escalating prevalence of suicide cases, prominently highlighted in both social media and traditional news sources, underscores the urgent need to understand the multifaceted factors influencing this alarming phenomenon. Suicidal tendencies transcend demographic boundaries, encompassing diverse genders, social strata, economic statuses, ages, and educational backgrounds. Suicide, an intentional act to terminate one's own life, manifests through a range of methods, such as hanging, drowning, bomb usage, poison ingestion, electrocution, and firearm utilization. In Nigeria, the widespread misuse of the readily available insecticide called SNIPER has tragically popularized suicide, with a pronounced occurrence among the young populace, particularly adolescents. Reports indicate that suicide rates are disproportionately high among students.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies suicide as the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 29 globally. The escalating frequency of adolescent suicides raises critical concerns about the underlying reasons prompting this promising cohort to engage in such devastating actions. The intricate process of transitioning from childhood to adulthood, coupled with physiological, mental, emotional, and social changes, renders adolescents more vulnerable to deficient problem-solving skills when confronted with life's challenges.

Suicide emerges as a culmination of a complex interplay of numerous factors rather than stemming from a singular cause. An adapted classification from the World Health Organisation differentiates these contributors into individual, socio-cultural, and situational categories. Individual factors encompass hopelessness, isolation, mental disorders, impulsive tendencies, substance abuse, personal history of abuse, chronic illnesses, family suicide history, and previous suicide attempts. Socio-cultural reasons incorporate cultural beliefs that valorize suicide as an escape from shame, media influence, stigma, limited healthcare access, and peer influence. Situational catalysts encompass financial constraints, loss of significant relationships, stressful life events, and the availability of lethal means.

It is evident that predisposition to suicide arises from an intricate fusion of these factors. For instance, an adolescent grappling with academic failure or bereavement may succumb to intense emotional distress, depression, and hopelessness, resulting in impulsive tendencies and, potentially, suicide attempts. The gradual progression toward suicide underscores the intricate interplay of historical, experiential, and circumstantial elements. Consequently, comprehensive assessment plays a pivotal role in discerning the specific factors influencing susceptibility to suicide attempts, encompassing a comprehensive exploration of the risk factors delineated by Alabi et al. (2014). This assessment seeks to gauge the level of vulnerability to suicide at a given juncture and provide appropriate care and intervention strategies. In tackling this disconcerting issue, a holistic understanding of the diverse contributors to suicidal tendencies emerges as an indispensable foundation for effective prevention and intervention initiatives.