• Okoseimiema Sonny Clement
• Ekpenyong Aniedi Moses

After respiratory and heart conditions, depression is a prevalent health issue. It is crippling and negatively affects student’s academic achievement, interpersonal functioning, mental health, anatomy, neurology, and emotions. The purpose of this study was to assess the coping mechanisms, depression, and suicidality of students at Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku and the University of Port Harcourt. In order to assess depression among university of Port Harcourt and Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku, the study also aims to ascertain the association between depression and socio-demographic characteristics, including age, sex, religion, marital status, educational attainment, and number of children. Students from the University of Port Harcourt and Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku were asked to complete a questionnaire in order to gauge their suicidal thoughts and feelings as well as their coping mechanisms. Two hundred undergraduate students from FCE (T) Omoku and university of Port Harcourt participated in a cross-sectional study. A standardized, self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data. The findings demonstrated a substantial correlation (P<0.001) between depression and socio-demographic characteristics, including age, gender, marital status, religion, and number of children. The study observed that both FCE (T) and University of Port Harcourt had less than 50% suicidality based on suicidality screening. According to the study's findings, 20.0% (40) of the participants said they wished they were dead or that they were better off dead. 58 people, or 29.0% of the respondents, expressed a desire to hurt themselves. Of the responders, 37.0% (74) had received suicide education. Of the responders, 56 people, or 28.0%, have a plan to commit suicide. Additionally, 84 individuals, or 42.0%, reported having attempted suicide. The prevalence of depression among the University of Port Harcourt and FCE(T) Omoku students was slightly below average, as well as their suicidality and screening strategy. This study recommends that depression screening services on campus should be established. There should be proper mental health intervention programs to tackle the problem. Knowledge gained from this study will be useful to the Neuroanatomist, Medical researchers, and University management for advocacy purposes.

Depression, Students, Social- Demographic Characteristics

"DEPRESSION AMONG STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT AND FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION OMOKU", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 2, page no.h351-h359, February-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2502746.pdf

"DEPRESSION AMONG STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT AND FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION OMOKU", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 2, page no. pph351-h359, February-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2502746.pdf