ABSTRACT
This study assessed the role of guidance and counseling in obviating suicide in the University of Benin, Benin City. Three research questions were raised to guide the study, which were all answered. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised of all forty-five thousand undergraduate students across all faculties in the University of Benin, Benin City. The sample size of the study comprised of 150 undergraduate students from 100 level to 400 level in Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City. The simple random sampling technique was used to select sample for the study. The instrument that was used for data collection was a questionnaire titled ‘Guidance and Counselling Services and Obviating Suicide among Students (GCSOSS)’. The data instrument was subjected to face validity by the researcher’s supervisor and one other expert in the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology, University of Benin, Benin City. To establish the reliability of the instrument that was used for the study, the internal consistency method was employed by using the Cronbach alpha formula. The instrument was administered to 15 undergraduates who were not part of the study population. The responses were analysed and a coefficient of 0.78 was obtained. The data collected were analysed using frequency, mean (x), and standard deviation (SD) using Statistical Packages for the Social Science (SPSS). The findings of the study revealed that factors such as depression, hopelessness, substance abuse, terminal illnesses, mental health disorders, and loss of loved ones contribute to suicide among students in the University of Benin. The study also revealed that guidance and counselling have a role in obviating suicide among students in the University of Benin, Benin City. Furthermore, it was revealed that strategies for preventing suicide among students include; education programmes, encouraging social connections, postvention counselling support services, provision of timely medical treatment, family/child care or parental support programmes, as well as the provision of suicide screening tools. In conclusion, the study underscores the critical role that guidance and counselling services play in preventing suicide within a university setting. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the number of trained counsellors should be increased in Universities. Also, mental health awareness and suicide prevention training should be incorporated into the university curriculum for students, faculty, and staff. This will foster a better understanding of mental health issues and promote early intervention.
