South African universities need to know why students’ suicide risk is so high
JASON BANTJES, Associate Professor in the Psychology Department, Stellenbosch University AN estimated 800,000 people die by suicide globally each year. It’s the second most common cause of death in people aged 15 to 29. University students around the globe are more at risk of suicidal behaviour than the general population. It’s important to understand the reasons so that effective interventions can be planned to prevent suffering and death. An international group of experts, working as part of the World Health Organisation’s World Mental Health International College Student Initiative, has been established to investigate the high rates of psychological distress among…