Title:
#Researchforimpact: Campus-based suicide prevention urgently needed at universities
Published:
Stellenbosch University, 15 October 2020
From the article:
The need for effective campus-based suicide prevention programmes at universities was highlighted in a study conducted by a team of researchers in SU's Department of Psychology and Psychiatry. The research team consisted of Dr Wylene Saal, Dr Elsie Breet, Prof Christine Lochner and Janine Roos, under the leadership of Prof Jason Bantjes.
Data collected from first-year students at SU and the University of Cape Town showed that 30,6% had experienced thoughts of suicide in the past 12 months, while 1,6% had made a suicide plan, and 2,4% had attempted suicide. These rates are markedly higher than those typically found in the country's general population.