Lets break the chain of suicide

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published research findings which concluded that, more than 800,000 people around the world die from suicide every year -- around one person every 40 seconds. “Unfortunately, suicide all too often fails to be prioritised as a major public health problem,” said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan. She further stated, “Despite an increase in research and knowledge about suicide and its prevention, the taboo and stigma surrounding suicide persist, and often people do not seek help or are left alone. And if they do seek help, many health systems and services fail to provide timely and effective help.”

I have a genuine concern as it relates to suicide, and as Director-General Dr Margeret Chan pointed out, suicide fails to be prioritized. The report says that, in some individual countries, however, the highest rates are found among the young. Notably, suicide is the second-leading cause of death in 15 to 29-year-olds globally. This finding is more than overwhelming, and I believe that more should be done to tackle this problem. Despite our deficiencies in the health sector and the failure of the Health minister, I believe that more can be done starting at the community level.

Suicide reports have been all over the media, we hear of police committing suicide, MPs saying they are receiving suicidal messages from members their respective constituencies, and the list goes on. Then there is the recent death of actor Robin Williams which is said to be suicide. One may never know what a person is going through, what circumstance initiate suicidal thoughts, and instead of us criticizing and condemning the act, especially those of the Christian faith, we must see it as a problem and address it. Though I am a Christian, who am I to judge? There are men in the bible who were servants of God, who committed suicide, consider King Saul and Sampson.

Dr Jorge Rodriguez, chief of the Mental Health Unit at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), said “The most important message is that suicide can be prevented, especially if we identify people at risk and intervene early…People who have attempted suicide are at higher risk of attempting it again, he noted, making it important for health personnel to provide follow-up of such cases, with family and community support.”

The new WHO report identifies a series of measures that can help prevent suicide, among them: creating national strategies for suicide prevention; restricting access to the most common means of suicide, including pesticides, firearms and certain medicines; providing medical follow-up for people who have attempted suicide; incorporating suicide prevention as a central component in health services identifying and treating mental health and substance abuse disorders as early as possible; and responsible reporting on suicide by the news media

I also would like to add that each on every one of us has a duty, give a listening ear to a person who is struggling, take the time to talk with a person and encourage them, and refer them to a professional. Let us break the chain of suicide by being our brother’s keeper.