EFFECTIVENESS OF COUNSELLING PROGRAMS IN ADDRESSING SUICIDE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE: A CASE OF BUTERE COUNTY HOSPITAL, KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Suicide among young people remains a pressing public health challenge in rural Kenya, with limited evidence on the effectiveness of existing counseling programs in mitigating the crisis.
Purpose of the Study: The study sought to assess the effectiveness of counseling programs in addressing suicide among young people at Butere County Hospital in Kakamega County, Kenya.
Methodology: A mixed-method approach was used, involving both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Data were collected from 60 participants aged 13–45 years through structured questionnaires containing closed- and open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while thematic analysis was employed for qualitative responses.
Findings: Results showed that 71.7% of respondents had either received counseling or knew someone who had. Counseling was beneficial, with 60% reporting reduced suicidal thoughts, 55% experiencing improved mental health, and 50% adopting coping strategies such as journaling and peer sharing. Only 23.3% indicated strengthened support systems, pointing to gaps in family and community involvement. The main causes of suicide identified were depression, substance abuse, family conflicts, and economic stress.
Conclusion: Counseling programs at Butere County Hospital were effective in reducing suicidal ideation and enhancing coping skills among young people, but their impact was limited by weak community and family support structures.
Recommendation: The study recommends expanding program outreach, allocating more resources, integrating digital and anonymous support platforms, and strengthening family and community involvement to enhance the long-term impact of counseling programs.
Keywords: Counseling, Suicide Prevention, Young People, Butere County Hospital, Mental Health
References
American Counseling Association. (2020). What is counseling? https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/about-counseling/what-is-counseling
American Psychological Association. (2020). Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy
Atwoli, L., Ayuku, D., & Stein, D. J. (2022). Mental health in Kenya: Progress, challenges, and policy directions. BMC Psychiatry, 22(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03876-8
Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Corey, G. (2016). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Gatuguta, A., Muthoni, R. M., & Kamau, L. (2016). The burden of suicide in Kenya: Experiences of survivors of suicide and attempted suicide in Nairobi and Nyanza provinces. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 7(1), 517.
https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2016.517
Gicheru, M. M., Ndetei, D. M., Kuria, M. W., Ng’ang’a, M. M., Njenga, F. G., & Mwaura, F. G. (2018). Factors influencing suicidal behavior in an urban slum in Kenya: A qualitative study of community perceptions. Community Mental Health Journal, 54(1), 70–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0150-1
Gladding, S. T. (2018). Counseling: A comprehensive profession (8th ed.). Pearson.
Hawton, K., Saunders, K. E., & O’Connor, R. C. (2012). Self-harm and suicide in adolescents. The Lancet, 379(9834), 2373–2382. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60322-5
Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427–440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-012-9476-1
James, R. K., & Gilliland, B. E. (2017). Crisis intervention strategies (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Mutiso, V. N., Musyimi, C. W., Tomita, A., Loeffen, L., Burns, J. K., & Ndetei, D. M. (2018). Stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illness among primary school children in Kenya. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 53(2), 129–134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1465-9
Mwangi, J., Gathara, G., Nyamai, R., Kamunya, R., Obondo, A., & Njoroge, W. (2019). Risk factors for suicide in Kakamega County, Kenya: A case-control study. East African Medical Journal, 96(9), 404–410.
Ndetei, D. M., & Khasakhala, L. I. (2018). Suicide in Kenya. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 12(1), 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0234-y
Ndetei, D. M., Khasakhala, L., Mutiso, V., & Ongecha-Owuor, F. (2010). Mental health services in Kenya: An overview. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 4(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-4-1
Onyango, R. O., Othieno, C. J., Wanjau, F. W., Ogutu, E. O., & Muthama, E. N. (2020). Factors associated with suicide among patients admitted to a referral hospital in western Kenya. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 55(2), 97–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091217418788200
Otinga, H. (2023). Exploring mental health and suicide prevention in Kenya: A contextual analysis. African Journal of Social Sciences, 15(2), 44–59.
World Health Organization. (2014). Preventing suicide: A global imperative. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2019). Suicide in the world: Global health estimates. https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/suicide-data
