Endalamaw Salelew, Lamessa Dube, Mubarek Aber
Background: Suicidal behaviours among people with mental illness are one of the commonest psychiatric emergencies that demand a major public health concern by researchers and mental health task forces. The aim of this study was, to assess the extent, magnitude and predictors of suicidal behaviours among people with mental illness at Jimma University Teaching Hospital psychiatry clinic.
Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study design with consecutive sampling technique was employed from October 26, 2014 to November 24, 2014. Data on suicidal behaviours were assessed by using the Suicidal Behaviour Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) version. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were computed to examine the strength and to identify independent predictors of suicidal behaviours among the study subjects.
Results: The prevalence of suicidal behaviour was 28.6%. The lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation was 211(54.8%) of which, simple suicidal ideation, intent and attempt were accounted for 21.8%, 16.9% and 16.1% respectively. The one year all suicidal ideation was 115 (29.9%). Age being in the early adulthood (between 18-27) (AOR=4.53, 95% CI=1.37, 14.93), age 28-37 (AOR=3.25, 1.01-10.41), major depressive disorder (AOR=4.48, 95% CI=1.95, 10.26), having family history of mental illness (AOR=2.25, 95% CI=1.11, 4.57), alcohol use disorders (AOR=2.29, 95% CI=1.08, 4.85) and nicotine dependence (AOR=2.21, 95% CI=1.08, 4.53) were the independent predictors of suicidal behaviors.
Conclusion: In this study the magnitude of suicidal behaviours were found to be very high.
