Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Suicidal Ideations among University Students

This study investigated the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and suicidal ideations among university students in Ghana. The research utilised a correlational design. Data were collected from a sample of 226 university students using the Childhood Traumatic Events Scale (CTES) and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). The data was analysed using Pearson correlation and descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics revealed that majority of students (83.6%) reported moderate levels of suicidal ideation, with females (M=8.83, SD=8.13) significantly higher than males (M=6.72, SD=6.24), as confirmed by an independent samples t-test (t (147) = 2.02, p = .046). A positive, significant relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and suicidal ideation was found (r = .27, p < .001), supporting the notion that childhood trauma is a key predictor of suicidal thoughts. The findings suggest that both childhood trauma and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression contribute significantly to suicidal ideation among university students. These results highlight the need for gender-sensitive and trauma-informed interventions to support mental health, reduce suicidal ideation, and address the psychological impact of childhood trauma.