@article{ref1,
title="A profound absence of counseling interventions for suicide prevention among youth in Africa: a call to action based on an empty scoping review",
journal="Suicide and life-threatening behavior",
year="2024",
author="Knettel, Brandon A. and Obale, Armstrong and Iqbal, Hamza and Fotabong, Mela C. and Philippe, Ngaha N. and Graton, Margaret and Ledbetter, Leila",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: One-third of all global suicide deaths occur among adolescents and young adults, making suicide the second leading cause of death among young people. Nearly 80% of suicide deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and many African nations have higher rates of suicide than global averages. However, interventions are scarce. We conducted a scoping review of counseling interventions for suicide prevention among youth in Africa. <br><br>METHOD: We performed structured searches of the Medline, Embase, PyscINFO, African Index Medicus, Global Heath Database, and Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global databases. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they described a counseling intervention conducted in Africa, focused on participants under age 22, and included a suicide-related outcome. <br><br>RESULTS: After removal of duplicates, 1808 titles and abstracts were screened and 10 studies were identified for full-text review. Of these, six included adult participants and did not disaggregate results for youth, two did not describe an intervention, and two did not include a relevant outcome. Thus, no studies were eligible for inclusion. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This empty review highlights the striking absence of published research on a life-threatening public health challenge, representing a distinct call to action for improved efforts in adolescent suicide prevention in Africa.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0363-0234",
doi="10.1111/sltb.13041",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13041"
}