This research paper explored students’ viewpoints on the common factors that lead to suicide-driven behaviours at a selected university in South Africa. Despite the existence of numerous preventive measures, suicide remains a significant national and global concern. This study aimed to bridge this gap in the literature by examining the perspectives of at-risk students, ensuring that suicide prevention programmes are appropriately tailored and adapted. The significance of this study is underscored by its potential implications, as it amplifies the voices of individuals at risk of suicide, often overlooked in research. The research objective is to explore common factors that lead to suicide-driven behaviours among students from a selected university in the Western Cape. The research used a qualitative approach and was guided by person-centred theory, specifically client-centred therapy, developed by Carl Rogers. The study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of university students of a selected university on suicide-driven factors, support systems, and interventions. The results show that socioeconomic pressures (financial limitations, unemployment), interpersonal factors (family dynamics, relationships), and past mental health issues all play a role in suicidal thoughts. Interventions must successfully manage mental health issues and address these factors. This study contributes to scholarship by bridging a critical literature gap by amplification of at-risk students’ voices and providing insights that can inform the design of more appropriately tailored and adapted suicide prevention programmes in higher education settings. Keywords: Suicide Ideation, Interpersonal Factors, Socioeconomic Stressors, Mental Health
Ludaka et al. (Fri,) studied this question.