Knowledge, perspectives and practices of suicide counselling by counsellors in selected secondary schools in Choma district, Zambia.
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Date
2024
Authors
Masilani, Mapenzi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
School counsellors have an ethical obligation to protect their learners; they are in an ideal position to help prevent suicide among learners as they are likely to encounter suicidal learners during the course of their duties. To understand the lived experiences of the school counsellors about their knowledge, perspectives and practices of suicide counselling a qualitative study was undertaken. A phenomenological design was used. The study sample composed of 12 school counsellors from selected secondary schools in Choma District. Purposive sampling method was used to select the participants. Data was collected using semi-structured interview schedule and a focus group discussion guide. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The outcomes of the study show that eight out of twelve school counsellors were not aware of suicide related information in the school curriculum. Five of the school counsellors expressed knowledge about causes and warning signs of suicide. Their knowledge was as a result of experience and not training. Nine counsellors in the study lacked training in suicide counselling. As a result, they held stigmatising perspectives towards suicide. However, the school counsellors felt they had a role to play in suicide prevention but this role was compromised by lack of knowledge in suicide counselling. On the basis of the findings, the study recommends that trainee school counsellors should be equipped with knowledge in suicide counselling. In addition, head teachers should encourage continuous professional development in suicide counselling among school counsellors and other teachers. The Ministry of Education (MOE) should support the development of a national suicide protocol to be followed by all school counsellors. Further, future researchers should consider designing a study to identify other factors most impacting suicide assessment self-efficacy.
Description
Thesis of Master of Education Degree in Guidance and Counselling.