Suicide risk in the context of relationship breakup among young adults: emotional pain and mental health indicators

ObjectiveThis study examined the relationship between the experience of emotional pain and psychological distress, suicidal behaviours, and mental wellbeing following romantic relationships and interrelationship breakups among young adults from Ghana.MethodThis study adopted a quantitative approach. Three hundred and thirty-three (330) university students, comprising of 86 males and 239 females, with ages ranging from 18 to 24 were conveniently sampled. The sample responded to items on the Psychache Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale - K10, Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire - Revised and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale.ResultsAnalysis revealed that there were no gender and age differences in the experience of psychological distress following relationship breakup; however, differences existed in relation to the type of relationship breakup. Further, majority of the respondents experienced various suicidal behaviours following relationship breakup. Also, some of the respondents were at risk of suicide death. There was a significant positive relationship between the experience of unbearable emotional pain and suicidal behaviours and suicide risk. There was a strong positive association between unbearable emotional pain and psychological distress. Both unbearable emotional pain and psychological distress were significantly and negatively related to one's mental wellbeing.DiscussionIn the midst of other socio-demographic variable and psychological distress, unbearable emotional pain only was the strongest significant predictor of suicide risk. This study highlights the importance of providing students with periodic education/information on relationships and emotional pain in formal educational setting to ensure students are well equipped to handle these experiences so it does not impact their psychosocial and academic life.