Student mental health service provision for suicide behaviour prevention on university campuses in Uganda
Norman Nsereko, Mark Griffiths, Seggane Musisi, Veronika Basa, Fatma Ayhan, Noah Sendawula, and
Pras Ramluggun
Citation: Nsereko, N. D., Griffiths, M., Musisi, S., Basa, V.,Ayhan, F., Sendawula, N., & Ramluggun, P. (2024). Student mental health service provision for suicide behaviour prevention on university campuses in Uganda.International Journal of Stress Prevention and Wellbeing, 8, 4, 1-10. https://www.stressprevention.net/volume/volume-8-2024/volume-8-article-4/
Processing dates: Submitted: 30th June 2023; Re-submitted: 30th September 2023; Accepted: 18th December 2023; Published: 10th May 2024
Abstract
The prevalence of mental health problems among Uganda university students, unlike globally, has been poorly documented. The present paper posits that the provision of early mental health interventions could prevent or reduce both current and future mental health problems, including suicidal behaviours among Ugandan university students. Various studies in the field of university student health have found the mental health of university student populations do not have adequate psychotherapeutic services. Today, there is a growing recognition for the need to increase investment in the promotion, prevention, and treatment approaches to mental health and well-being as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3.4 developed by the United Nations in 2015. However, little research has been carried out concerning the provision of university mental healthcare services that address students at risk for mental ill-health including suicidal behaviours on Ugandan university campuses. An assessment of the university mental health service provision as a strategy to address student suicidal behaviours on campuses in Uganda would provide insights that underlie the focused services needed through which vulnerable university students can be addressed and helped. This calls for a strategic intervention model, locally contextualized, developed and informed by the Sustainable Development Goals to address the mental health and well-being of the students.
Key words: Ugandan university students, mental health services, suicidal behaviours, provision Strategies
Biographies
Norman D. Nsereko is with Nkumba University, Entebbe, Uganda.
Email: nnsereko@nkumbauniversity.ac.ug
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9461-6057
Mark Griffiths is Director, International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
Email: mark.griffiths@ntu.ac.uk
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524
Seggane Musisi is CEO, Entebbe Lakeside Hospital, and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Department Of Psychiatry, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Email: segganemusisi@yahoo.ca
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3454-0000
Veronika Basa is an independent researcher, 11/284-285 Nepean Hwy Seaford Vic 3198, Melbourne, Australia.
Web: www.veronikabasa.com
Email: info@veronikabasa.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6908-4930
Fatma Ayhan is with the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Batman University, Turkey.
Email: kucuksumbul@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9717-1727
Noah Sendawula is with with Nkumba University, Entebbe, Uganda.
Email: noahsendawula@nkumbauniversity.ac.ug
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4913-689X
Pras Ramluggun is with Oxford Brookes University UK.
Email: pramluggun@brookes.ac.uk
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0421-3559