The Search for Meaning When All Seems Lost: The Contribution of Spiritual Care to the Prevention of Suicidal Behaviour Amongst University Students

The World Health Organisation attributes 700,000 deaths to suicide annually, albeit the number of those who engage in suicidal behaviours is far greater. Suicide is a leading cause of death amongst 15-29-year-old people globally, and a significant portion of university students fall into that age range. Accordingly, many universities offer psychological services that aim to enhance the mental health of their students because good mental health is positively correlated to better academic results and higher levels of happiness. However, it appears that university psychosocial services tend to neglect spirituality which is detrimental because every human being has a spirituality. An integral component of spirituality is meaning in life, and this is a protective factor against suicidal behaviour. This study departs from the understanding that suicidal behaviours are not only associated with mental health issues, but also with a lack of meaning. Thus, this study aims to examine the impact of spirituality, with specific reference to meaning making, on enhancing the mental health of university students and preventing suicide.