Research 2012

CAUSES OF SUICIDAL TENDENCIES AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS:

A BASIS FOR A PROPOSED INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Dr. Ronan S. Estoque, Rachelle S. Comaje, Ermalyn L. Oandasan, Marie Pamela Feny P. Papa, Anne Patricia C. Sanchez

Our Lady of Fatima University – Quezon City

Abstract

            The research study aims to determine the causes of suicidal tendencies of collegestudents to make a basis for an intervention program. The study is centered on the analysis of fifty (50) selected male and female students of Our Lady of Fatima University. The researchers wanted to find out how to intervene the increasing number of students with suicidal tendencies through identifying their emotional profile. The researchers utilized the Descriptive method of research through outcome- based evaluation using the standardized test as the main source of data. The researchers made use of purposive sampling, also called as judgmental sampling, under non-probability sampling in the selection of respondents. Under this scheme, sampling units were selected based on the predefine criteria and the number of respondents may not to be proportional. The researchers also seek the help from Guidance and Career Planning Center of Our Lady of Fatima University for the list of potential respondents. The research instruments utilized by the researchers include all the tools, apparatuses, and materials used in eliciting data that may contribute to the completion of a research task. The instruments used were letters, personal information sheet and testing materials. Standardized test which is Emotional Profile Index was used by the researchers to measure the emotional aspect of respondents. It is a scale that assesses some attributes. These have been used because it is more convenient on the part of the respondents, and the respondents, and the researchers. Percentage Method was used for the computation of the corresponding percentage equivalent of the actual frequency count. It was used for the demographic profiling of the respondents according to age, gender, year level and course. Kruskal-Wallis Test (H-Test) was used as a statistical method to compare three or more independent groups. It is a nonparametric test which does not require normal distribution. Chi-square test also was used for comparing actual results with other variables. It was used to determine the significance of reactions of groups toward certain issues or the significance of the association between two variables.

           

According to Munger (2010) High-profile suicides of public intellectuals have contributed to the stereotype of “tormented genius”. But are smarter people really more likely to take their own lives. Conventional wisdom says that gifted artists like Vincent van Gogh and Sylvia Plath had something in their constitution that made them much more susceptible to depression, and thus, to suicide. One of the smartest people I ever knew, a former high school classmate who was also a world-class rower, took his own life as pressures for perfection at his Ivy-League university became too much for him. Such stories, painful and tragic, lend credence to the belief that smart people are more likely to commit suicide. But do we remember these stories because they are common place, or are they notable only because they are also rare?

RECOMMENDATIONS

To augment and substantiate the results and to make a generalization, it is recommended that:

1. The family is recommended to establish strong family bond by doing simple things together and provide support to each family member especially those with past suicidal attempt. Each family is suggested to have an open communication to be aware of individual conflicts.

2. The school administrators, teachers, counselors, and others who are in daily contact with students is recommended to learn to identify potential risk factors, recognize behavior patterns of adolescents who may possibly become suicidal, and follow referral procedures.

3. The community is recommended to promote awareness that suicide is a problem that can be prevented through developing public education campaigns, sponsor national conferences on suicide and suicide prevention, organize special issue forums, and disseminate information through the Internet.

4. The government is recommended to develop and implement suicide prevention programs and develop broad-based support for suicide prevention. This can be attained by the increase of number of professional, volunteer, and other groups that integrate suicide prevention activities into their ongoing activities and the number of faith communities that adopt policies designed to prevent suicide.