Suicide Among Rural Primary School Learners in Zimbabwe: An Epidemic in Need of Mitigation
Suicide Among Rural Primary School Learners in Zimbabwe: An Epidemic in Need of Mitigation
Keywords:
: counselling; learners; rural primary schools; suicide; Zimbabwe
Abstract
Suicide among rural primary school learners Zimbabwe has reached epidemic proportions, yet there is dearth. However, the causes and potential mitigation strategies are still limited. This article aims to address that gap by exploring Zimbabwe rural primary learners' perspectives. Using a socio-cultural theoretical framework, this qualitative study will conduct focus group with 12 learners from Mahoto rural area, Masvingo North Constituency to elicit learners' lived experiences and suicide motivations. The data will undergo thematic analysis to identify key patterns and themes. Initial findings suggest that academic struggles without access to counselling drive many rural primary school learners to end their lives prematurely. This highlights the need for Zimbabwe's Government, through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to urgently deploy professional counsellors. By giving voice to the disadvantaged rural learner suicide epidemic firsthand, this study seeks actionable strategies to stem the tragedy of learners’ suicide and promote the well-being of Zimbabwean rural learners.
References
Australian Government, Department of Health. (2017). Conversations Matter: Resources for Speaking with Young People about Suicide. Retrieved from https://lifeinmindaustralia.com.au/communities/schools/resources-for-schools/+-/asset_publisher/2D4CtZo7V9Pe/content/conversations-matter-resources-for-speaking-with-young-people-about-suicide
Ayubu, M., Kidanto, H. L., & Nystrom, L. (2020). The influence of social support on suicidal ideation among pregnant women in rural Tanzania. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 1-10.
Bork, A., & Rucks-Ahidiana, Z. (2013). Mobile learning in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of School Zambia. International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT), 9(1), 4-17.
Biddle, L., Gunnell, D., & Donovan, J. L. (2015). Explaining the association between socioeconomic deprivation and suicidal behavior: A systematic review. Social Science & Medicine, 12 (8): 1-11.
Brunstein Klomek, A., Marrocco, F., Kleinman, M., Schonfeld, I. S., & Gould, M. S. (2007). Bullying, depression, and suicidality in adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 46(1), 40-49.
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). (2019). Talking to Kids about Suicide: A Guide for Parents and Teachers. Retrieved from https://cmha.ca/documents/talking-to-kids-about-suicide
Chidarikire, M. 2023. Strength of peer counselling strategy in curbing drug abuse among secondary rural learners in Chivi, Zimbabwe. Journal of Innovations, 72(4): 891-898.
Chudgar, A., & Luschei, T. F. (2009). Teaching in rural India: Linking teacher performance incentives to student achievement. Journal of School Choice, 3(3), 316-350.
Chikutsa, A., & Mupinga, D. (2016). The influence of sociocultural factors on the academic performance of rural learners in Zimbabwe. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies, 7(5), 280-289.
Chitsiko, M. (2018). The influence of socioeconomic status on academic performance in Zimbabwe: A case of three disadvantaged schools in Mashonaland East Province. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 7(9), 1-9.
Dube, B. (2020). Rural Online Learning in the Context of COVID-19 in South Africa: Evoking an Inclusive Education Approach. Multidisciplinary Journal of Educational Research, 10(2), 135-157.
Epstein, J. L. (2001). School, family, and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. New York: Westview Press.
Hawton, K., Saunders, K. E., & O'Connor, R. C. (2012). Self-harm and suicide in adolescents. The Lancet, 379(9834), 2373-2382.
Herrman, J. W., Waterhouse, J. K., Chiquoine, J. B., Spencer, S. M., & Surkan, P. J. (2016). Social stigma and depressive symptoms among adolescent mothers: The role of social support and social comparison. BMC Women's Health, 16(1), 1-9.
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2018). Bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. Archives of Suicide Research, 22(1), 15-30.
Hjelmeland, H., Dieserud, G., Dyregrov, K., Knizek, B. L., Leenaars, A. A., & Ostlie, K. (2012). Psychological autopsy studies as diagnostic tools: Are they methodologically flawed? Death Studies, 36(7), 605-626.
Gini, G., & Espelage, D. L. (2014). Peer victimization, cyberbullying, and suicide risk in children and adolescents. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(5), 435-442.
Gómez-Pomar, E., Fisher, P. H., & Stratton, H. J. (2013). School-aged pregnancies: A systematic review of psychological outcomes. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(6), 723-731.
Johnson, D. W., Johnson, R. T., & Holubec, E. J. (2013). Cooperation in the classroom. New York: Interaction Book Company.
Klomek, A. B., Sourander, A., & Gould, M. (2010). The association of suicide and bullying in childhood to young adulthood: A review of cross-sectional and longitudinal research findings. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 55(5), 282-288.
Klonsky, E. D., May, A. M., & Saffer, B. Y. (2016). Suicide, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 12, 307-330.
Kim, Y. S., Leventhal, B., Koh, Y. J., Boyce, W. T., & Bullying Prevention Committee. (2009). Prevalence and correlates of bullying in South Korean middle schools. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45(4), 360-363.
Leenaars, A. A., & Lester, D. (Eds.). (2018). Suicidal behavior: Theories and research findings. Cairo: Hogrefe Publishing.
Makuvaza, N., & Peltzer, K. (2017). Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in the context of sustainable development in Zimbabwe. Sustainability, 9(2), 196.
McCoy, D. C., Yoshikawa, H., Ziol-Guest, K. M., Duncan, G. J., Schindler, H. S., Magnuson, K., ... & Shonkoff, J. P. (2017). Impacts of early childhood education on medium-and long-term educational outcomes. Educational Researcher, 46(8), 474-487.
Mmari, K., Blum, R., Sonenstein, F., Marshall, B., Brahmbhatt, H., Venables, E., & Delany-Moretlwe, S. (2013). Adolescents' perceptions of health from disadvantaged urban communities: Findings from the WAVE study. Social Science & Medicine, 8(4), 1-8.
Nock, M. K., Borges, G., Bromet, E. J., Cha, C. B., Kessler, R. C., & Lee, S. (2008). Suicide and suicidal behavior. Epidemiologic Reviews, 30(1), 133-154.
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). (2015). Preventing Youth Suicide: Tips for Parents and Educators. Retrieved from https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/preventing-youth-suicide/preventing-youth-suicide-tips-for-parents-and-educators Accessed on 27th September 2023
Phiri, M. (2022). Suicide cases soar in Zimbabwe. Suicide cases soar in Zimbabwe - The Mail & Guardian (mg.co.za).
Pompili, M., & Serafini, G. (Eds.). (2016). Understanding suicidal behavior: The suicidal process approach to research, treatment, and prevention. Caroi: Hogrefe Publishing.
Rwafa-madzvamutse, C. (2023). Mental Health: Suicide — a rising public health threat. Mental Health: Suicide — a rising public health threat - The Zimbabwe Independent (newsday.co.zw).
UNESCO. (2020). Education in Rural Areas: New York: A Global Perspective.
Silverman, D. (2016). Qualitative research. New York: Sage Publications.
TellZim (2017). Silveira High school pupil commits suicide. www.tellzim.silveira-high-pupil-commits-suicide.com.
WHO, (2023). Suicide. https: //.www.who.int. /news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
Ayubu, M., Kidanto, H. L., & Nystrom, L. (2020). The influence of social support on suicidal ideation among pregnant women in rural Tanzania. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 1-10.
Bork, A., & Rucks-Ahidiana, Z. (2013). Mobile learning in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of School Zambia. International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT), 9(1), 4-17.
Biddle, L., Gunnell, D., & Donovan, J. L. (2015). Explaining the association between socioeconomic deprivation and suicidal behavior: A systematic review. Social Science & Medicine, 12 (8): 1-11.
Brunstein Klomek, A., Marrocco, F., Kleinman, M., Schonfeld, I. S., & Gould, M. S. (2007). Bullying, depression, and suicidality in adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 46(1), 40-49.
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). (2019). Talking to Kids about Suicide: A Guide for Parents and Teachers. Retrieved from https://cmha.ca/documents/talking-to-kids-about-suicide
Chidarikire, M. 2023. Strength of peer counselling strategy in curbing drug abuse among secondary rural learners in Chivi, Zimbabwe. Journal of Innovations, 72(4): 891-898.
Chudgar, A., & Luschei, T. F. (2009). Teaching in rural India: Linking teacher performance incentives to student achievement. Journal of School Choice, 3(3), 316-350.
Chikutsa, A., & Mupinga, D. (2016). The influence of sociocultural factors on the academic performance of rural learners in Zimbabwe. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies, 7(5), 280-289.
Chitsiko, M. (2018). The influence of socioeconomic status on academic performance in Zimbabwe: A case of three disadvantaged schools in Mashonaland East Province. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 7(9), 1-9.
Dube, B. (2020). Rural Online Learning in the Context of COVID-19 in South Africa: Evoking an Inclusive Education Approach. Multidisciplinary Journal of Educational Research, 10(2), 135-157.
Epstein, J. L. (2001). School, family, and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. New York: Westview Press.
Hawton, K., Saunders, K. E., & O'Connor, R. C. (2012). Self-harm and suicide in adolescents. The Lancet, 379(9834), 2373-2382.
Herrman, J. W., Waterhouse, J. K., Chiquoine, J. B., Spencer, S. M., & Surkan, P. J. (2016). Social stigma and depressive symptoms among adolescent mothers: The role of social support and social comparison. BMC Women's Health, 16(1), 1-9.
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2018). Bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. Archives of Suicide Research, 22(1), 15-30.
Hjelmeland, H., Dieserud, G., Dyregrov, K., Knizek, B. L., Leenaars, A. A., & Ostlie, K. (2012). Psychological autopsy studies as diagnostic tools: Are they methodologically flawed? Death Studies, 36(7), 605-626.
Gini, G., & Espelage, D. L. (2014). Peer victimization, cyberbullying, and suicide risk in children and adolescents. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(5), 435-442.
Gómez-Pomar, E., Fisher, P. H., & Stratton, H. J. (2013). School-aged pregnancies: A systematic review of psychological outcomes. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(6), 723-731.
Johnson, D. W., Johnson, R. T., & Holubec, E. J. (2013). Cooperation in the classroom. New York: Interaction Book Company.
Klomek, A. B., Sourander, A., & Gould, M. (2010). The association of suicide and bullying in childhood to young adulthood: A review of cross-sectional and longitudinal research findings. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 55(5), 282-288.
Klonsky, E. D., May, A. M., & Saffer, B. Y. (2016). Suicide, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 12, 307-330.
Kim, Y. S., Leventhal, B., Koh, Y. J., Boyce, W. T., & Bullying Prevention Committee. (2009). Prevalence and correlates of bullying in South Korean middle schools. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45(4), 360-363.
Leenaars, A. A., & Lester, D. (Eds.). (2018). Suicidal behavior: Theories and research findings. Cairo: Hogrefe Publishing.
Makuvaza, N., & Peltzer, K. (2017). Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in the context of sustainable development in Zimbabwe. Sustainability, 9(2), 196.
McCoy, D. C., Yoshikawa, H., Ziol-Guest, K. M., Duncan, G. J., Schindler, H. S., Magnuson, K., ... & Shonkoff, J. P. (2017). Impacts of early childhood education on medium-and long-term educational outcomes. Educational Researcher, 46(8), 474-487.
Mmari, K., Blum, R., Sonenstein, F., Marshall, B., Brahmbhatt, H., Venables, E., & Delany-Moretlwe, S. (2013). Adolescents' perceptions of health from disadvantaged urban communities: Findings from the WAVE study. Social Science & Medicine, 8(4), 1-8.
Nock, M. K., Borges, G., Bromet, E. J., Cha, C. B., Kessler, R. C., & Lee, S. (2008). Suicide and suicidal behavior. Epidemiologic Reviews, 30(1), 133-154.
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). (2015). Preventing Youth Suicide: Tips for Parents and Educators. Retrieved from https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/preventing-youth-suicide/preventing-youth-suicide-tips-for-parents-and-educators Accessed on 27th September 2023
Phiri, M. (2022). Suicide cases soar in Zimbabwe. Suicide cases soar in Zimbabwe - The Mail & Guardian (mg.co.za).
Pompili, M., & Serafini, G. (Eds.). (2016). Understanding suicidal behavior: The suicidal process approach to research, treatment, and prevention. Caroi: Hogrefe Publishing.
Rwafa-madzvamutse, C. (2023). Mental Health: Suicide — a rising public health threat. Mental Health: Suicide — a rising public health threat - The Zimbabwe Independent (newsday.co.zw).
UNESCO. (2020). Education in Rural Areas: New York: A Global Perspective.
Silverman, D. (2016). Qualitative research. New York: Sage Publications.
TellZim (2017). Silveira High school pupil commits suicide. www.tellzim.silveira-high-pupil-commits-suicide.com.
WHO, (2023). Suicide. https: //.www.who.int. /news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
Published
2024-04-30
How to Cite
Chidarikire, M., Chikwati, T., & Chidarikire, J. (2024). Suicide Among Rural Primary School Learners in Zimbabwe: An Epidemic in Need of Mitigation. Pedagogi: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 24(1), 97-107. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24036/pedagogi.v24i1.2025
Section
Article
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
