(PS10-18) Addressing Suicide in Nigeria: The Acceptability, Appropriateness, and Feasibility of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

The World Health Organization reported that, as of 2016, Nigeria had the highest rate of suicide among African countries, totaling 17,000 individuals (Akinremi, 2019).  Suicide in Nigeria remains an understudied issue in part due to stigma, legal consequences, inadequate documentation of causes of death in health records—factors that make it challenging to execute research or test out prevention strategies (Alabi et al., 2014; Oyetunji, 2021). Additionally, mental healthcare is largely unsupported by government, and criminalization of suicide of still found in many parts of the country. The absence of a much-needed suicide-prevention strategy continues to hinder the progress that could be made towards management and efforts to prevent suicide (Ogundipe, 2019).  

Given the phenomenon of high suicide rates, the suicide crisis must be addressed urgently. The dearth of research on suicide in Nigeria inevitably means adopting prevention strategies that are found efficient elsewhere but not tested in the country (Alabi et al., 2014). There are many approaches to prevention, treatment being one of them. The efficacy of comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy for chronically suicidal populations is well-established in western countries ( Pierson et al., n.d.) but there is scant evidence of its utility and adaptation with non-western populations (Haft et al., 2022). 

The present study aims to determine the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of comprehensive DBT within the unique cultural and societal context of Nigeria, as part of possible treatment considerations for suicide in the country. 15 participants were recruited for the study. The inclusion criterion is that participants must have worked with a clinical population in Nigeria (this includes clinicians, researchers, or other stakeholders in the mental health sector). 

The study had three phases. (1) Participants completed a preliminary survey regarding demographics, their thoughts on the current management of suicide in Nigeria, as well as any gaps in treatment, and their awareness of DBT and as well as general thoughts on the treatment; (2) Participants then engaged in a workshop on DBT treatment to be familiarized with the treatment; (3) Lastly, through surveys and/or group interviews, the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of DBT within the Nigerian context will be assessed.

The study is in the analysis phase and will take a deductive thematic analysis approach. The surveys will be analyzed to determine themes within the domain of acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of DBT in Nigeria.The outcome of this study may be shared with stakeholders to inform future implementation considerations.