APPLICATION OF CONTEMPORARY COUNSELLING SERVICE FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AMONG FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the application of contemporary counselling services for suicide prevention among female university students in Rivers State. A correlation design was employed, and the study population comprised all counsellors in public and private universities in Rivers State. A convenience sampling technique was used to select 40 counsellors (20 from public universities and 20 from private universities). Data was collected using a 30-item "Application of Counselling Services for Suicide Prevention Questionnaire" (ACSSPQ), which was face and content validated, with a Cronbach alpha reliability index of 0.81.

The findings revealed that integrative counselling had the highest effect on suicide prevention, followed by the application of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy. The study also found that the different counselling services had a significant relationship with the prevention of suicide among female university students. It was recommended that counsellors should adopt an integrated counselling technique in the discharge of their duties both within and outside the university setting.