Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy on suicidal ideation among male and female in-school adolescents in Abuja municipal area council

Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among ages 15 to 29 years and a major global concern that emerges from thoughts of suicide. Suicidal Ideation has become a worrisome threat in the Nigerian communities because of its likelihood of triggering suicidal behaviors among its future leaders (adolescents). Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the reduction of Suicidal Ideation among in-school Adolescents in Abuja Municipal Area Council, was examined in this study. Quasi-experimental research design method was adopted, with a population of 12,400 and a sample size of 39 of these students susceptible to Suicidal Ideation. The instrument, Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire for in-school Adolescents, was adapted for collecting data. Three test experts established the validity of the instrument with two from Counselling Psychology, and one from Measurement and Evaluation, all in the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A reliability co-efficient value of 0.92 was obtained with the use of Cronbach Alpha statistics. Descriptive statistics, paired sample t-test, and Analysis of Variance were used to analyze data. The results showed that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was effective on Suicidal Ideation among in-school Adolescents in Abuja Municipal Area Council. There was no significant interaction effect by Sex on Suicidal Ideation. Based on the findings, it was recommended that counselling psychologists should make use of this therapy to help students susceptible to suicidal behaviors.