Knowledge of Suicide Counselling by Counsellors in Selected Secondary Schools in Choma District, Zambia

This study sought to explore what the school counsellors in selected secondary schools of Choma district of Zambia knew about suicide counselling. To achieve this aim, a descriptive phenomenological design was used. The universal essence of counsellors’ subjective experiences on causes and warning signs of suicide, awareness of suicide related information in the school curriculum and their training in suicide counselling were described. Purposive sampling method was used to select 12 participants for the study. Data was collected using semi-structured in depth interviews and focus group discussions, thereafter, it analysed thematically. The outcomes of the study showed that 5 of the 12 school counsellors knew the causes and warning signs of suicide. Their knowledge was however, was mostly as a result of experience and not training, 4 out of 12 school counsellors were aware of suicide related information in the school curriculum. 9 of the counsellors did not have 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 inadequate knowledge in suicide counselling. It was therefore, recommended that trainee school counsellors should be equipped with knowledge in suicide counselling. In addition, school counsellors were encouraged to go through continuous professional development in suicide counselling.