How Pharmacy Student Can Resist Suicidal Thoughts Or Ideas

Suicidal thoughts or ideas are common among university students in Nigeria. Some make an attempt and a handful succeed. It is not very common in pharmacy school. However, there have been a couple of suicide by pharmacy students in Nigeria. It is not limited to a group of students. It cuts across various departments, students of all ages, status, background, gender, academic status, etc.

There are so many causes of suicidal thoughts in university students. They range from academic performance, career goal, death of a family member or friend, family problems, social relationship, finances, health of a close person or oneself, personal appearance, sleep difficulty and bullies. The major cause of suicidal thoughts in university students is school stress (academic performance) and bullies. The stress is as a result of pressure to fulfill a goal. This is usually pressure to finish some work or excel in something.

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Academic Performance

The need to succeed in academic performance is the major factor that contributes to suicidal thoughts in university students. Funny enough, it affects both those at the top of the class as well as at the bottom. It is not uncommon to hear about a suicide victim being one of the top in the class. It leaves people to wonder why such a promising person would take his or her own life. They may start suspecting other causes. The reason is because there is pressure from somewhere. It mostly comes from family and lecturers. They use different means to drive their desire into the student that it seems like a bully. It is not just about how to excel. There is always a point of reference. To be better than somebody; parents or lecturer or a fellow student. This pushes some into depression. They start contemplating suicide when they can't take it anymore.

This push is not only to those at the bottom of the class. Even the students everyone feel is excelling is feeling this too. Those with first class want to be at the top of the class. Another set is battling to enter first class. The same goes for those with second class and third class. The worst cases are those who just want to do better than somebody they know. When it seems impossible or not forthcoming, they slide into depression and suicidal thoughts set in.

Bullies

Getting bullied is a common thing in university.  Bully can come from those who are rich towards those who are poor or those who are excelling academically towards those that are not. Bully used to end in a school environment. These days, bullies have taken their trade online. This increases the number of times a student is exposed to bullies.

These bullies can attack another student verbally or physically. Most students from rich families look down on others. They are bold and can use that to intimidate others. For those whose performance in class is good, they usually make others feel like their opinions are not good and easily accept the opinion of others of their own category.

It is not impossible to get pressure from lecturers to do better. Some pick you out of the whole class and want to see a different you. It is good if those lecturers know how to do it. It works for some. Unfortunately, some lecturers that pick on students don't know how to inspire the student to do well. They end up becoming a bully themselves. Some can use remarks that make it seem that you àre dull or foolish.

Pressure

There is another cause if suicidal thoughts in Nigeria university. That is pressure from financial constraints, illness if love ones and relationships issues. These pressures can put a strain on happiness.

Suicide

Solution

Friends

Your choice of friends matters a lot. Make friends with fellow students who are on the same academic situation like you. You have always heard that you should follow those who are performing well in class to learn from them. But it always fails. The reason is simple. Some can spend a few hours with their book and understand what they read. If you follow such ones and you are not that type, you are heading for a doom. Also, many of those types like to associate with only those that are on the same page with them. Any person forcing themselves on them gets bad treatment.  They will never feel your pain and may never know how to encourage you. They may bully you for your poor performance. Your decision on certain issues will seems irrelevant before them.

But when making friends with those who are also one same academic standard as you, you can study together and flow together. You have all the opportunity to discuss at the same level playing ground. Nobody feels superior to the other.

Also try as much as possible to associate with those who are of almost the same financial status as yours. Forcing yourself on those who are financially more stable can lead to abuse verbally and physically. Any little misunderstanding will lead to abuse. Your opinion will not count. They will be spending and reminding you how they are feeding you.

However, among 12 Judas, there is a Jesus. The above is generally true but there stand a few that are different. Got a handful of them back in school. It is just that they are rare.

Lecturers

Avoid those lecturers that think little of you. Don't fail to attend their lecture. Prepare more for their examination and do well. Assume all lecturers like you even when deep down you know that is not possible.

Neighbors

You should always avoid the temptation of trying to impress. One mistake most students make is they try to look like those at the top of their class even when they are not. It is quite natural to feel bad when one fails. But it is disastrous to deceive people. When your neighbor or people around you find out the true situation of things, they will end up mocking you. Such situations can lead to depression and eventually suicidal thoughts. It is not best to tell people about your grade but it is wrong to lie about it. If you want to hide your grade fine. But don't go telling them a different story. Better still, change apartment or location.

Exercise

This is one of the simple solutions to fighting suicidal thoughts as a student. When such thoughts pop up, pick up yourself and engage in meaningful activities like workout. Engage in new fun activities that you have never done before. See room to improve yourself.

Counsellor

Talk to somebody that is having the same fate as yours. The person can even be in the same department and or level. They may also be struggling with such thoughts. But as you share your thoughts, you strengthen each other. You may think you are alone. You will be surprised about the thought of the other person. Such encouragement goes a long way in helping in the fight against suicidal thoughts.

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Is there someone that you know had similar problems and still scale through? Get in touch with such ones. Talk to them. Do not WITHDRAW from everybody.

Go to your school counselor. They have been trained to do that job. They may not completely help because I was with a friend and a counselor even made his condition worse. Not all may truly know what you are passing through and how to talk to you.

Me, Myself And I

Your greatest motivator and inspiration is you and yourself. Nobody else can encourage you better. Talk to yourself. Know that school stress is just a fraction of the real world stress. It is just preparing you for the major stress ahead. Learn how to cope here so that you can learn how to cope in the future. School stress is not worse than family and marital stress coupled with work and government stress all put together. And when you are a student, most of these stresses are minimal. And never compete with anybody. Set a target for yourself and beat yourself to achieve it. If second class upper is your target then go for it. And when it is not forth coming strive hard for it but never blame yourself. It can always be better.