The lived experiences of refugees with suicidal behaviour in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, Yumbe District

Abstract

There are high rates of suicidal behaviors among refugees in Uganda and this can be attributed to the hardships they go through before, during transition from their home countries and during their stay in the hosting country. Many interventions to protect them have been done but have not been sufficient due to the increasing adversities, crises and the reduced funding to support the cause. This study therefore sought to explore the lived experiences of refugees with suicidal behaviour, in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, Yumbe District. A phenomenological research design was employed. The study was carried out in Yumbe district and individual face to face interviews were conducted with 12 respondents having suicidal behavioral experiences. Data was analyzed thematically and 12 themes emerged including limited resources, extreme life hardships, psychological triggers, marital discord as a trigger of suicidality, excess alcohol consumption as a risk factor to suicide behaviors, emotional turmoil, psychophysiological reactions, broken identity, disconnection from others, marital disharmony as a lived experience, giving up on hope, rebuilding life, social support, divine connection, positive self-talk, the incredible role of the children and alcoholism as a negative copying strategy. The results reported that the limited resourced and the harsh economic environment like unemployment, the lack of basic needs like food, water and shelter in the refugee settlements was the leading cause of suicidality thus highlighting the need for more collaboration amongst the refugee agencies, more tailored therapy and support services. In general, this study highlights the need for a comprehensive understanding of suicide multi-layered dimensions to develop effective preventive interventions and support systems that can ultimately assist survivors in their journey toward healing and resilience.