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Unfortunately, the growing incidence of suicide and its effects on the society has not received the attention it deserves from the authorities. For now, it is being handled by the families, friends of the victims. Perhaps, the governments at the local government, states and federal government levels should be concerned and come up with urgent and aggressive programmes to address the scourge.
By Anthony Isibor
IN November 2023, the Police Public Relations Officer in Delta State, Bright Edafe, raised concerns over the rising cases of suicide among young Nigerians.
Edafe, who raised the alarm through his X handle following several cases of suicides reported in the state, urged the youth to stay away from places where they do not find happiness.
While the mental state of a person may be one of the top causes of suicide, economic hardship seem to be taking the lead in recent times, according to the World Health Organization, WHO, report that 77 per cent of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
The report puts deaths by suicide as the fourth leading causes of death among 15–29-year-olds with more than 700,000 people committing suicide every year.
The figure is less than the number of people who attempt suicide each year because for every suicide, there are many more people who attempt suicide, the report said.
The recent case of the 32-year-old Amarachi Ugochukwu, a banker who was said to have taken her own life after consuming an insecticide in Lagos gives credence to this fact.
In the suicide note found beside her lifeless body, the deceased had blamed her decision on harsh economic environment of the country and that nothing was working well for her.
In her exact words, the late Amarachi wrote:
“Nothing is working in my life.
“My figures are low.
“My brain is clogged up.
“The economy is getting harder.
“My decisions are wrong.
“My mind is messed up.
“The future doesn’t seem bright at all. I see extreme hardship. I can’t bear the pain anymore.”
This is even as more details about her revealed that she was a very hardworking lady, who combined her banking job with shoe business.
Despite reasons given for attempting or committing suicide, the WHO notes that the act can be prevented and that there are a number of measures that can be taken at the population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.
The WHO has recognized suicide as a public health priority and thus placed it among one of the priority in its Mental Health Gap Action Programme, MHGAP, launched in 2008, which provides evidence-based technical guidance to scale up service provision and care in countries for mental, neurological and substance use disorders.
The LIVE LIFE, the WHO’s approach to suicide prevention, recommends the following key effective evidence-based interventions:
Limit access to the means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, certain medications);
Interact with the media for responsible reporting of suicide;
Foster socio-emotional life skills in adolescents; and
Early identify, assess, manage and follow up anyone who is affected by suicidal behaviours.
“These need to go hand-in-hand with the following foundational pillars: situation analysis, multisectoral collaboration, awareness raising, capacity building, financing, surveillance and monitoring and evaluation.
“Suicide prevention efforts require coordination and collaboration among multiple sectors of society, including the health sector and other sectors such as education, labour, agriculture, business, justice, law, defence, politics, and the media. These efforts must be comprehensive and integrated as no single approach alone can make an impact on an issue as complex as suicide,” it added.
However, Segun Awosanya, an activist who is known as Segalink on X, says that those in power must continually be held accountable.
According to his post via his X handle @segalink, “The economy is hard on us all in varying degrees. No one is spared. Not even government institutions find it difficult to operate, yet cannot complain despite being demonised unjustly by political opportunists.
“It is for this cause that we hold our political leaders, government and their MDAs accountable not because any individual is hated or targeted,” he said.
Similarly, a CDC report highlights the complexity of suicide, noting that while mental health conditions may be a contributing factor for many people, many other factors contribute to suicide among people with and without known mental health conditions.
Among these, a relationship problem was the top factor contributing to suicide, followed by crisis in the past or upcoming two weeks and problematic substance use.
“About half, 54 percent of people who died by suicide did not have a known mental health condition. However, many of them may have been dealing with mental health challenges that had not been diagnosed or known to those around them.” the centre said.
While the government must continue to ensure that it provides a conducive economic environment for citizens to succeed, parents, friends, colleagues, and relatives must watch out for the following warning Signs of Suicide as reported by the CDC.
Often talking or writing about death, dying or suicide.
Making comments about being hopeless, helpless or worthless.
Expressions of having no reason for living; no sense of purpose in life; saying things like “It would be better if I wasn’t here” or “I want out.”
Apart from interventions of the family, friends and the NGOs, the governments at the local government, states and federal government levels should be concerned about the growing incidence of suicide and its effects on the society and come up with aggressive programmes to address the scourge.
A.
-January 27, 2024 @ 07:34 GMT|
Tags: Amarachi Ugochukwu Anthony Isibor Bright Edafe CDC LIVE LIFE Segun Awosanya WHO
