The rate of suicide in the country raises a serious concern. It cuts across all strata of the society – the rich, middle class and the poor.
In this report, some Nigerians suggested how to tackle this societal stigma.
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia; Noah Ebije, Kaduna; Tony John, Port Harcourt; Scholastica Hir, Makurdi; Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin and Femi Folarin, Yenagoa
Men of God should continue to preach messages of faith, hope -Emmanuel Olorunmagba, cleric; Kaduna
The thought of suicide is rooted in hopelessness. Therefore, before anyone can think of suicide he/she in his/her thinking has come to the end of the road and the only option is to exit this world.
Considering the present situation in our country, many people are already pushed to the wall where they are stranded.
Ministers of God should continue to preach messages of faith and hope towards stirring positive spirit that will help our congregation to see that better days are ahead no matter the present situation. And above all, the place of prayers cannot be over emphasised.
Mental education should be given attention – Professor Mohammed Bello Magaji, lecturer; Kaduna
Prioritising mental health and giving mental education attention like other health issues. We should look at the root causes, which go to the inability of persons to meet their basic needs, due to unfavorable economy climates. So, friendly economic policies will go a long way to stem this tide of suicide.
The society should avoid putting unbearable pressure on people – Amaechi Okonkwo, journalist; Port Harcourt
Suicide can be tackled in two broad ways by using the system/society or government, and at very personal level.
To begin with, the system should avoid putting unbearable pressure on people that will lead to frustration and eventually the thought of suicide. A clear example is the type of pressure Nigerians have had to pass through in recent years resulting in high decrees of failure and frustration.
In addition, people should learn to organise their lives and make adjustments to live peacefully within affordable resources at every point in time.
The hunger in the land should be addressed – Mrs. Anita Ogona, journalists; Port Harcourt
One of the ways to tackle suicide in the society is for government to revitalise the manufacturing industries. Once someone is engaged with a meaningful job, the person’s mind will be occupied with his or her work.
The issue of hunger in the land should be addressed. In a situation where the citizens are living in hardship and depression, it can lead some persons to commit suicide.
Educate people about mental health, depression – Alfred Mangai, broadcast journalist; Jos
Suicide is preventable and one of the ways to prevent it is to raise awareness, educate people about mental health, depression and suicide prevention. Reduce the stigma by encouraging open conversations about mental health and with people seeking help.
There is need to increase access to quality mental health care, access to counseling, therapy, promoting healthy coping mechanisms and healthy habits like exercise, social connections and most importantly, addressing the root causes that push people into being suicidal, especially the economy.
We need counseling units in schools, healthcare institutions -Mike Onaji, businessman; Jos
We would need to look at the causes of suicide – economic hardship, social injustice, inferiority complex, spiritual causes among others. People tend to see suicide as the easy way out of any challenging situations.
To reduce this trend, there is need to create an awareness to let people know that they are not the only ones going through challenging times. We need effective counseling units in our various schools and health care institutions, government should work towards poverty alleviation to improve quality of life of citizens.
Education and sensitisation is the key – Sabatini Okpe, public analyst; Makurdi
Education and sensitisation is the key. You must know that problem is not synonymous to you, and thinking that yours is peculiar is falsehood to yourself. If you know this, you will know you are not the only person having a problem. So if the next man can survive it, you can also survive if you give it time. If you are able to educate yourself and believe that you can walk away from any problem, you don’t need to commit suicide because it’s only the living that has hope for solution.
If you kill yourself, the problem doesn’t go away.
It’s a cowardly way to avoid responsibility. So education is the key and it starts with you.
FG should integrate mental health education into the school curricula – Collins Obhiozele, students union president; Benin
Actually, the rate of people taking their own lives in the country has reached an alarming stage and I think an urgent step needs to be taken to curb it.
One of the steps is for the federal government to create job opportunities for the people because it is often said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Because the people are idle, a lot of negative thoughts will be running through their minds, but when they are gainfully employed, they will not have the thought of taking their own lives.
The other aspect is for the federal government to integrate mental health education into the school curricula to empower individuals to recognise warning signs and seek help early.
We should be promoting activities that build social cohesion – Destiny Owobu, teacher; Benin
Addressing the rising rate of suicide requires a multifaceted approach.
To begin with, increased mental health awareness and education can help reduce stigma and encourage individuals to seek help. This can be achieved through public campaigns, integrating mental health education into school curricula, and providing training for healthcare providers to recognise and address mental health issues early.
In addition, expanding access to mental health services, including hotlines, counseling, and support groups is crucial. Ensuring these services are affordable and easily accessible, especially in rural and underserved areas can make a significant difference.
Furthermore, fostering community support and connection can play a vital role in suicide prevention. Encouraging open conversations about mental health within families, workplaces, and communities can help individuals feel less isolated and more supported.
Promoting activities that build social cohesion, such as community events, support groups, and peer mentorship programmes can also create a stronger safety net for those in distress. By combining these efforts with policies that address underlying issues like unemployment and substance abuse, we can create a more supportive environment that helps prevent suicide.
Individuals in depression should seek psychological attention – Allwell Ene, journalist Port Harcourt
Suicide occurs as a result of depression arising from hardship and trauma. To tackle it, the individual with depression should seek psychological attention from an expert. There is need for government to ensure that the welfare of the citizens and living conditions affordable. Government has an important role to play in ensuring it addresses the living standards of its citizens.
FG should address root causes of hardship, hunger, and suffering – Ade-Osifo Emmanuel, student; Benin
To prevent suicide in Nigeria, it is crucial to enhance mental health awareness and access to services through public education campaigns, mental health programmes, and increased availability of professionals, particularly in underserved areas.
Addressing the root causes of hardship, hunger, and suffering is vital. Government initiatives should focus on job creation, social welfare, food security, and poverty reduction through policies supporting small businesses, agriculture, and infrastructure. Strengthening social safety nets and fostering community solidarity can mitigate the impact of these issues on mental health, thereby reducing the suicide rate.
FG should do something to ameliorate the hardship – Celestine Kanu, agriculturist; Umuahia
The precarious economic situation in the country is majorly the root cause of suicide. The government therefore should do something urgently to ameliorate the hardship in the country in order to stop suicide.
FG should checkmate high rate of illicit drugs consumption by youths -Mazi Obioha, businessman; Aba
The rate of suicide in this country I must agree with you is alarming. Apart from the economic hardship, another causative factor is the use of hard drugs by mostly our youths. To stop suicide, the government should not only do something about the hardship the country is facing, but also checkmate the rate of consumption of illicit drugs by the youths.
Government should increase its fight on use of hard drugs- Dan Chibuike, journalist, Umuahia
Government should increase its fight on the use of hard drugs, which I think is the major factor.
In addition, the government should create more job opportunities for the youths because anybody that has something nice doing won’t be thinking of committing suicide, although there are some exceptions.
Good governance is the key – Sam Patrick Dogitimi, publisher; Yenagoa
It’s only people who are depressed that would want to take their lives. Depression is caused by several factors.
One of which is hardship, especially in Nigeria. Government at all levels should be more responsive and make life more meaningful for the masses. Today’s Nigeria, which is battling inflation, insecurity, forex and other disturbing issues, is frustrating many people to consider suicide. I believe that with good governance, accountability, food security and national security, as well as provision of adequate infrastructures, the people would have a sense of belonging. This would in turn drastically reduce suicide rates in the country