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Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide Risk among Ugandan Youth in Vocational Training

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Abstract

The current study examines the prevalence of depression, anxiety, suicide risk, and PTSD in Ugandan youth (13-25 years) attending vocational training programs. Youth from five urban (n=224 females, 81 males) and four rural (n=153 females only) vocational training centers operated by a non-governmental organization completed demographic and mental health questionnaires. Nearly half of the youth reported moderate or severe depression and/or anxiety. More than half reported anxiety and depression-related impairment. Nearly a quarter of youth had considered or attempted suicide. More than half screened positive on the PC-PTSD screen. Rural female youth reported the most food insecurity (56.9%), trafficking (37.9%), severe depression (35.9%), depression-related impairment (56.9%), severe anxiety (26.1%), and anxiety-related impairment (55.6%). Results from this study suggest that Ugandan youth have exceedingly high rates of depression, anxiety, suicide risk, and probable PTSD. Rural female youth may be especially at risk. Relevant treatment interventions are needed that can be adapted to youth in vocational training centers.

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Funding

Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services.” P30MH058107, National Institute of Mental Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

    Badru Bukenya

  2. Uganda Youth Development Link, Kampala, Uganda

    Rogers Kasirye, Joanne Lunkuse & Moses Kinobi

  3. Center for Health Services and Society, Semel Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Sylvanna M. Vargas, Rupinder Legha, Lingqi Tang & Jeanne Miranda

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Sylvanna M. Vargas

  5. Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Sylvanna M. Vargas

Authors
  1. Badru Bukenya
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  2. Rogers Kasirye
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  3. Joanne Lunkuse
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  4. Moses Kinobi
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  5. Sylvanna M. Vargas
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  6. Rupinder Legha
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  7. Lingqi Tang
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  8. Jeanne Miranda
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Contributions

Badru, Rogers, & Miranda: developed the conceptualization of the study and supervised the operations. Kinobi & Lunkuse: developed materials and executed the study. Vargas: manuscript preparation. Legha: analysis and manuscript preparation. Tang: analysis

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sylvanna M. Vargas.

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Ethics Approval

The current study was approved by the UCLA and Ugandan National Council for Science and Technology Institutional Review Boards.

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Youth provided informed consent to participate.

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Not applicable.

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None to report.

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Bukenya, B., Kasirye, R., Lunkuse, J. et al. Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide Risk among Ugandan Youth in Vocational Training. Psychiatr Q 93, 513–526 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-021-09959-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-021-09959-y

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