Nigeria’s season of suicides
15 cases reported in 3 months
Suicides this year didn’t begin with the death of Allwell Orji, a medical doctor who jumped off Third Mainland Bridge into the Lagos lagoon on March 19. So far, 15 of such cases have been recorded and Orji’s is another that’s jolted the country to the reality of the rising incidence. Only days before his (Orji) demise, Ladoke Akintola, a final year student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Adesoji Adediran was reported to have taken his life. His roommates returned from a night study session to find his body hanging from the ceiling. There was also the case of an unidentified 20-year-old man in Lariye Village, Bauchi on the 6th of the same month.
Unlike Akintola or Lariye, reports have shown that Orji’s family had observed his behaviour and having reservations about his condition, ensured he had a driver so his movement could be regulated. A Consultant Psychiatrist with Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Dr. Michael Agbo Amedu said there are several reasons why an individual could choose to commit suicide, even though over eighty percent of those who actually do, suffer from depression, about ten percent, more likely, battle with mental illness.
An instance of what appears to be a case of mental illness is that of one Chijioke in Imo State, who was allegedly tormented by tattoos on his back to commit suicide, and he did on February 14.But the possibility of some having been brainwashed to commit the act can also not be ruled out. In addition is the social issue question, Dr. Amedu said, where, for the last one or two years, people have killed themselves because they couldn’t pay debts, or carry out their responsibilities at home.
A typical example is the reason behind the deaths of Okuna Lawrence in Mende, Lagos and Justine Y. Daudu, 52, District Head of Gidan Waya in Godogodo Chiefdom of Jema’a Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State, in February. A pensioner with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Daudu, who allegedly drank rat poison, was said to have been complaining of poverty, which he said had made him lose confidence in life. He left behind two wives and many children.
But Dr. Amedu pointed out that the larger category of suicide prone persons, who suffer from depression, may not commit the act, as against those who plan every step of the way to do it and go to the extent of writing a letter before then. This was the case with Taiwo Olanrewaju Ariyo at Igando, Lagos, who committed suicide a few hours after he posted a suicide note on Facebook.
“So, with every one person that commits suicide there are at least five others who have tried and failed,” Dr. Amedu said, adding that unfortunately, people are still in denial.
In handling cases of suicidal patients, Amedu first resorts to questioning them to establish the possible cause. If it is depression or psychosis, treatment is instantly carried out. If the case is severe, the patient is immediately admitted. But in a case where the person has a lot of support from home, there is the option of being an outpatient. But then, monitoring is key, because drugs can be used to commit suicide by patients, he stressed.
A psychologist, Dr. Perpetual Chia has also attended to patients liable to commit suicide. She pointed out that they do a lot of assessment and go ahead to give therapy. “For depression, for example, someone who has lost something in his or her life, or is helpless may choose to end his or her life,” she said. In this event they use what is called Behaviour Therapy.
But is there a rise in incidents of suicide? Dr. Amedu thinks not. “It’s just because awareness has risen and social media is getting more rampant. Part of the challenge we are having with people that have suicidal tendencies is stigmatisation associated with those seeking for help. Because of its link to mental illness, people do not want to be tagged as mentallyill. Also, there is the matter of policy issues with the government. They have not given mental health due attention,” he said.
Dr. Raphael E. Ogbolu, coordinator of a Suicide Prevention Service called the Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative and Staff Emotional Care Services (SURPIN/SECS) recently initiated by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, explained that people who find themselves in such state need a listening ear and support to help them choose to live on. He added that 85 percent of suicides occur in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC), of which Nigeria is one. He said suicide is preventable, but the problem is a lack of prevention strategies in Nigeria.
Apart from depression, suicide is also associated with substance abuse, especially alcohol, chronic painful medical conditions, terminal medical illnesses, social isolation, lack of support, and other major mental issues.
LUTH will be collaborating with all relevant agencies to enhance efforts to save lives and prevent death by suicide within the country.