“… I Really Prepared to Take My Life …”: Dynamics, Instruments and Suicidal Thoughts Among Nigerian University Students Following Social Media Reported Suicides

Abstract

This study examined the different dimensions and instruments used in committing suicide and how it gave rise to suicidal thoughts among Nigerian university students who had witnessed these suicide cases posted in social media platforms. Convenience sample of 30 students who had witnessed social media reported suicides were studied using focus group discussion. It was found that suicide a single person affair becomes a group affair through the power of its postings in social media platforms which generates different discussions on it. Students tend to have different suicidal thoughts following suicides they watched in social media platforms. These suicidal thoughts come in the form of high suicidal ideation, near suicidal ideation and no suicidal ideation. Use of sniper (a chemical used in killing insects) in committing suicide by students generated more thoughts of suicide especially when posted in social media platforms than other means of committing suicide.