Understanding and Preventing Child Suicide in the United Republic of Tanzania: Seligman’s Theory of Well-Being and Logo-Therapy

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published Jun 14, 2025
https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.1.1.2025.382
Download
PDF
Statistic
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025): Special Issue - African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research (AMJR)

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Masalakulangwa Mabula
St. Paul's University

Abstract

Children in the world today are more abandoned, neglected and abused than any time in history. Tanzania as part of the world is not an island. Suicide remains the second leading cause of death globally. While rare in younger than 10 years, suicide death rates increase markedly between the ages of adolescence and young adulthood. In 2022, more than 3000 people including children killed themselves in Tanzania, placing the country 4th in Africa with the highest suicide rate. The prevalence of depression in the general population of Tanzania is 4.1%, while suicide has been reported in 2.3/100 000 of the general population. Although a child according to the varied definitions is any person from age 5 to 18, this study focuses on children ages (but not limited to) 7-17, and 17-27.  It is, however, worth noting that Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines 'children' as persons up to the age of 18 (UNCRC). Child suicide indicates failure of social institution.  The objectives of the study are: i) to explain child suicide ii) to elucidate the causes of child suicide, and iii) to offer preventive measures of child suicide in the United Republic of Tanzania. The study employs the WHO Non-Invasive Qualitative Violence Info Methodology which generates evidence to address this acute but neglected problem. The WHO Non-Invasive Violence Info Methodology is supplemented by the Inter-Generational Qualitative Method which recognizes and includes all ages as the problem is cross-cutting. The Seligman’s PERMA theory of well-being and Logo-Therapy are applied in this study. The results indicate that the myths and facts of suicide have not been captured by social institutions. The study suggests humane treatment of all children. All children must be treated equally with dignity and sanctity. Family and parenting should be improved to be child-centered, and schooling should not only be inclusive but invitational as well. The study concludes that it is the Behavioral sciences approach which holds a promise in preventing suicide. According to Behavioral sciences, knowledge and information enhance management of any problem. Children who are dying of suicide have been suffering from unnoticed intra-psychic conflict for long time.  

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

How to Cite
Mabula, M. . (2025). Understanding and Preventing Child Suicide in the United Republic of Tanzania: Seligman’s Theory of Well-Being and Logo-Therapy. African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research, 1(1), 651–663. https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.1.1.2025.382

References

  1. Adler, A. (1908). Der Aggressionstrieb im Leben und der Neurose. Fortsch. Med. 26: 577–584.
  2. Adler, A. (1917). The Neurotic Constitution: Outlines of a Comparative Individual Psychology and Psychotherapy 1917. New York: Moffat.
  3. Adler, A. (1924). The Practice and Theory of Individual Psychology. Totowa, N.J.: Littlefield, Adams & Co
  4. Adler, A. (1927). Understanding Human Nature. New York:Greenberg.
  5. Adler, A. (1931). What Life Could Mean to You? New York: Capricorn Books.
  6. Adler, A. (1930). The Pattern of Life. Martino Fine Books.
  7. Adler, A. (1930). The Problems of Neurosis. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
  8. Adler, A. (1930). The Science of Living. General Press.
  9. Adler, A. (1938). Social Interest: A Challenge to Mankind. J. Linton and R. Vaughan (Trans.). London: Faber and Faber Ltd.
  10. Adler, A. (1998). Understanding Human Nature. Trans. Colin Brett. Center City, MN: Hazelden.
  11. Adler, A. (1955). The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler. H. L. Ansbacher and R. R. Ansbacher (Eds.). New York: Harper Torchbooks.
  12. Allely, C. (2020). The psychology of extreme violence. 1st Edition. London: Routledge.
  13. Barry, C. (2022). “What Is Education?”, In Principles and Pedagogies in Jewish Education. New York: Springer International Publishing.
  14. Batthyany, A. (2009). Existential psychotherapy of meaning: handbook of logotherapy and existential analysis. 1st Edition. ‎ Phoenix, AZ: Zeig, Tucker & Theisen.
  15. Berlim, M. T., Perizzolo, J., Lejderman, F., Fleck, M. P., Joiner, T. E. (2007). “Does a brief training on suicide prevention among general hospital personnel impact their baseline attitudes towards suicidal behaviour?”, In Journal of Affective Disorders. 2007;100(1–3):233–9. Article PubMed Google Scholar
  16. Berman, A. L., Jobes, D. A., Silverman, M. M. (2006). Adolescent suicide: Assessment and intervention. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Book Google Scholar
  17. Bertolote, J. M., Fleischmann, A. A. (2009). global perspective on the magnitude of suicide mortality. In: Wasserman D, Wasserman C, editors. Oxford Textbook of Suicidology and Suicide Prevention: a global perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press; pp. 91–98. Google Scholar
  18. Borges, L., Loera, C. R. (2010). Alcohol and drug use in Suicidal behavior. Curr Opin Psychiatry, 23(3):193–204. Article Google Scholar
  19. Camerona, L., Daniel, S. et al. (2022). Let’s talk about it: a guide for talking to children after a suicide of a loved one. Des Moines Iowa: Words Worth Repeating Publishing.
  20. CDC. (2021). “Benefits of Physical Fitness”, In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Atlanta, GA: CDC.
  21. Crawford S., Caltabiano, N. J. (2009). The school professionals’ Role in Identification of Youth at Risk of Suicide. Aust J Teach Educ. 34(2):28–39. Google Scholar
  22. Dawes, M. A., Mathias, C. W., Richard, D. M., Hill-Kapturczak, N., Dougherty, D. M. (2008). Adolescent Suicidal Behavior and Substance Use: Developmental Mechanisms. Subst Abuse: Res Treat, 2,13–28. Google Scholar
  23. Dunlavy, C., Andrea, W., & Michael, L. (2015). Suicidal ideation among school-attending adolescents in Dar Es Salaam”, In Tanzania journal of health research, 17(1). Tanzania. Centre for Learning Research, Department of Teacher Education, University of Turku.
  24. Durkheim, E. (1897). Le suicide, Étude de sociologia. Paris: Anciensse Libraries Germa Satlliere Alcan Editeur.
  25. Durkheim, E. (1952). Suicide: a study of sociology. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
  26. Fisher, D. (2005). “The literacy educator’s role in suicide prevention”, In J Adolesc Adult Literacy, 48(5):364–73. Article Google Scholar
  27. Flisher, A. J., Ward, C. L., Liang, H., Onya, H., Mlisa, N., Terblanche, S., et al. (2006). Injury-related behaviour among South African high-school students at six sites. S Afr Med, 96:825–30. Google Scholar
  28. Gabriella, R. K. & Seligman, M. (2023). Tomorrowmind: thriving at work with resilience, creativity and connection – now and in uncertain future. New York: Simon Element.
  29. Gardiner, P. (1968). Nineteenth century philosophy. New York: The Free Press.
  30. Green, P. (2022). Survive your child’s suicide: how to move through grief to healing. Kano, Nigeria: Tie-Die Press.
  31. Happiness Alliance. (2014c). The domains of happiness for the Gross National Happiness Index. http://www.slideshare.net/TheHappinessInitiative/the-domains-of-happiness-for-the-gross-national-happiness-index
  32. Harriford, D. S., Harrison, W. B. (2008). When the center is on fire: passionate social theory for our times. Austin: Austin: University of Texas Press.
  33. Hemlin, S. et al. (2016). Creativity and Leadership in Science, Technology and Innovation. London: Routledge.
  34. Hill, L. (2024). Inner child recovery workbook: Heal childhood trauma, abandonment, neglect and abuse. Independently Published.
  35. Hoffmann, A. J., Caitlin, A., Farrel, A., Monuteaux, C., Michael & Scd et al. (2020). “Association of Pediatric Suicide With County-Level Poverty in the United States 2007-2016”, In JAMA Pediatrics. 2020: 174(3):287-294.
  36. IASP: International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)(2012). Suicide prevention across the globe: strengthening protective factors and instilling hope, 1–3. Google Scholar
  37. Jolly, L. Jennifer, Kettler, Todd. (2008). “Gifted Education Research 1994-2003: A Disconnect between Priorities and Practice”. In Journal for the education of the gifted, v31 n4 p 427-446 Sum 2008. Waco, TX: Prufrock Press Inc.
  38. Kandel, R. E. (1912). The age of insight: the quest to understand the unconscious in art, mind and brain, from vienna 1900 to the present. New York: Random House.
  39. Leivang, S., & Ali, H. (2024). Socio-economic analysis of household livelihood security problems. Saarbrücken, Germany: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.
  40. Lester, D. (1991). “Totalitarianism and fatalistic suicide”, In Journal of Social psychology. 131:129–30.
  41. Locke, J. 1693 Thoughts Concerning Education. London: A & J. Churchill.
  42. Madu, S. N., & Matla, M. P. (2004). “Family environmental factors as correlates for adolescent suicidal behaviors in the Limpopo province of South Africa”, In Soc Behav Pers. 2004;32(4):341–54. Article Google Scholar
  43. Mann, J. J., Apter, A., Bertolote, J., Beautrais, A., Currier, D., Haas, A., et al. (2005). Suicide prevention strategies: A systematic review. JAMA, 294(16):2064–2074.
  44. Mavhunga, C. C. (2017). What Do Science, Technology and Innovation Mean from Africa. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
  45. Mercer, J. A. (2005). Welcoming Children: A Practical Theology of Childhood. Des Peres, MO: Chalice Press.
  46. Montgomery, S. S. & Coale, M. S. (2015). Supporting children after a suicide loss: A guide for parents and caregivers. 1st Edition. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
  47. Morley, P., Chapman, G. (2024). From broken boy to mended man: A positive plan to heal your childhood wounds and break the cycle. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale Momentum.
  48. Musikanski, L. (2017). Happiness Index Methodology. Journal of Social Change, 9(1), pp. 4–31. Minneapolis, MN: Walden University, LLC.
  49. Patton, G. C., Coffey, C., Sawyer, S. M., Viner, R. M., Haller, D. M., Bose, K. et al. (2009). Global patterns of mortality in young people: a systematic analysis of population health data. Lancet, 374:881–92. Article PubMed Google Scholar
  50. Pearce, F. (1987). A reworking of Durkheim’s suicide. Economic and society. 16, 526–67.
  51. Peck, D. L. (1981). Towards a theory of suicide: The case for modern fatalism. Omega. 11(1):1–14.
  52. Peltzer, K., Kleintjies, S., Wyk, B. V., Thopmson, E. A., Mashego, T. B. (2008). Correlates of suicide risk among secondary school students in Cape Town. In Soc Behav Pers., 36:493–502. Article Google Scholar
  53. Perfetti, A. R. (2018). Fate and the clinic: A multidisciplinary consideration of fatalism in health behavior. Medical humanities. 44(1) p. 59.
  54. Pickering, W. S. F., & Walford, G. (2000). British Centre for Durkheimian Studies. Durkheim’s suicide: A century of research and debate. London: Psychology Press.
  55. Radbo, H., Svedung, I., Anderson, R. Suicide prevention in railway systems: Application of a barrier approach. Saf Sci. 2008;46:729–37. Article Google Scholar
  56. Rankle, A. (2024). Re-regulated: Set your life free from childhood PTSD and the trauma-driven behaviors that keep you stuck. Hey House LLC.
  57. Reddy, P., Panday, S., Swart, D., Jinabhai, C. C., Amosun, S. L., James, S., et al. Umthenthe Umhlaba Usamila: The 2nd South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey. South African medical research Council: Cape Town; 2010. Google Scholar
  58. Roberts, R. E., Roberts, C. R., & Irene, C. G. (2000). Fatalism and risk of adolescent depression. Psychiatry 63(3):239–52.
  59. Schepp, K. G., & Biocco, L. (1991). Adolescent suicide: views of adolescents, parents and school personnel. Arch Psychiatr Nurs, 2:57–63. Article Google Scholar
  60. Seligman, M. (2004). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York: Atria Books.
  61. Seligman, M. (2006). Learned optimism: How to change your mind and your life. New York: Vintage Books.
  62. Seligman, M. (2007). The optimistic child: A proven program to safeguarding children against depression and build lifelong resilience. New York: Aminjikarai, Chennai: Atria Books.
  63. Seligman, M. (2012). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Aminjikarai, Chennai: Atria Books.
  64. Seligman, M. (2018). On mental thoughtfulness. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review.
  65. Shayo, F. K., Lawala, P. S. Does bullying predict suicidal behaviors among in-school adolescents? A cross-sectional finding from Tanzania as an example of a low-income country. BMC Psychiatry, 19, 400. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version].
  66. Shilubane, H. N., Ruiter, R. A. C., Bos, A. E. R., van den Borne B. H. W., James, S., Reddy, P. S. (2012). Psychosocial determinants of suicide attempts among black South African adolescents: A qualitative analysis. J Youth Stud, 14(2):177–89. Article Google Scholar
  67. Shilubane, H. N., Ruiter, R. A. C., Bos, A. E. R., van den Borne B. H. W., James, S., Reddy, P. S. (2014). Psychosocial correlates of suicide ideation in South African Adolescents. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev., 45(2):153–62. Article PubMed Google Scholar
  68. Singh, M. (2023). Cyberbullying in the 21st Century: A Rising Threat to Youth in Digital Age. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 11, (3), 10. 25215/1103.306
  69. Stivers, C. (2008). “Adolescent Suicide”, In Marriage & Family Review. 12 (1–2): 135–142.
  70. Stollar, R. L. (2023). The Kingdom of Children: A Liberation Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans.
  71. Timson, D., Priest, H., Clark-Carter, D. (2012). Adolescents who self-harm: Professional staff knowledge, attitudes and training needs. Adolesc, 35:1307–14. Article PubMed Google Scholar
  72. Tucci, J., Mitchell, J. et al. (2024). The handbook of trauma transformative practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  73. Van Orden K. A., Witte, T. K., Cukrowicz, K. C., Braithwaite, S. R., Selby, E. A., Joiner, T. E. The interpersonal theory of suicide. Psychol Rev. 2011;117:574–600. Google Scholar
  74. Viktor, F. (2006). Man’s Search for Meaning. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
  75. Walter, H. J., Gouz, K., Lim, K. G. (2006). Teachers’ beliefs about mental health needs in inner ity elementary schools. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006;45(1):61–8. Article PubMed Google Scholar
  76. Winslade, M. J., & Williams, M. (2011). Safe and peaceful schools: Addressing conflict and eliminating violence. 1st Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
  77. World Health Organization (WHO). (2012). Public health action for the prevention of suicide: framework, 1–26. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO. Google Scholar
  78. Wyman, P. (2020). The Jesus Myth of Christ, Quantum Theory and Your Inner Child: Exploring Human Development Through the Three Lenses of Theology, Science and Psychology. 1st Edition. Independently Published. Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
  79. Zhou, Y., Nkomola, P. D. Qi, X., Xin, L., Xinyan, X., Fang, H., Huaiting, G., & Ranran, S. (2020). Health risk behaviors and suicidal attempt among adolescents in China and Tanzania: a school-based study of countries along the belt and road. Children and youth service review. Vols. 118 November 2020, 105335. Elsevier.