Arresting rising cases of suicide
No. 20 P.O.W. Mafemi Crescent, Off Solomon Lar Way, Utako District, Abuja
Since 2016 when suicide became part of the social problems bedevilling the Nigerian society, its incidence has continued to be on a steady rise in the country. Statistics of reported cases show 66 cases in 2017; 79 cases in 2018; 85 cases in 2019; and 34 cases so far in 2020. Reports published in June 2020 ranked Nigeria as 5th in the world with the highest suicide rate of an average of six suicides per month.
The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately one million people die annually from suicide; representing a global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds.
Suicide is a desperate attempt to escape suffering or a troubling situation that has become unbearable to a suicidal person. Although suicide or attempted suicide is a criminal offence under Nigeria’s criminal laws, it is now being reported regularly in the news.While different people (young and old) have different ways of managing failures in life, some individuals manage disappointing situations with the most expensive alternative; the suicide option.
In a report published by Daily Trust in June 2019, students topped the list when 42 Nigerians committed suicide in 6 months, within the first and second quarter of 2019. Fifteen of the victims reportedly drank the deadly insecticide called sniper.
Untreated depression, according to medical experts, is one of the major causes of suicide. Other immediate and remote causes of suicide include mental illness; drug and alcohol abuse; family history; divorce or breakup of a relationship; physical and sexual abuse including rape; incarceration; stigma; a serious loss such as the loss of job, house or money; terminal illness; hopelessness; bankruptcy; social isolation; unemployment; and war.
Some suicidal behaviour or signs in a suicidal person include having problems with eating, sleeping and socialisation; reckless behaviour such as over-speeding while driving or driving through red lights; talking about suicide; giving away possessions; visiting friends and relations to say ‘Goodbye’; researching suicide methods; buying suicide materials and writing suicide notes. Aside of depression, symptoms of mental illness include irritable mood, low self-esteem, and guilt.
In addition to being alien to African culture, suicide is a worthless risk in the same way it stigmatises families. Government, the society, parents and individuals all have separate and collective roles to play in curbing the tide of suicide in the country. Suicide does not happen suddenly. Parents and family members have the foremost role of identifying warning signs and taking prompt measures to address suicidal symptoms as soon as they manifest in their children, siblings or relations. Religious leaders in mosques and churches have a duty in the counseling of their audience on the significance of patience and perseverance over failures or misfortunes in life; citing historical evidence from the life and teachings of virtuous men of God.
Every potential means or instrument of suicide such as pills, knives, razors or firearms, should be kept out of the reach of a potential suicidal person. His medications too should be locked away or given out only as the person needs them. Family members, particularly parents, are advised to avoid putting undue pressures on their children over issues in which their choice matters; especially if they have come of age. Less stigma towards psychologically unstable individuals may also help to encourage help-seeking behaviour in persons suffering from mental illness.
Suicide is preventable. To arrest the rising curve in the country’s suicide cases, practical efforts must be made to enact and enforce laws or policies that would reduce access to means of suicide including hard drugs, firearms, insecticides, and pesticides. Training and re-training of non-specialised health workers on the assessment and management of suicidal behaviour is strategic to addressing the menace.
Government is encouraged to revive and make its social welfare offices rehabilitation centres functional at local and state levels. Government should also be proactive in the area of job creation in addition to providing quality education and access to primary healthcare. Government could equally curb the rising cases of suicide by providing and equipping public television viewing centres, sports and recreation centers, as well community libraries.