With over 700,000 cases of suicides annually 77% occur in low-and-middle-income countries globally.
The World Health Organization’s country Representative in Nigeria Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo disclosed this at an occasion to mark the 2022 world suicides prevention in Abuja.
He said Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds, thus affecting families, communities, and the entire country and with long-lasting effects on the people left behind.
Dr. Walter noted that for every suicide, there are likely 20 other people making a suicide attempt and many more have serious thoughts of suicide, hence the need for its prevention to save cost.
“Suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based, and often low-cost interventions. For national responses to be effective, a comprehensive multisectoral suicide prevention strategy is needed. In 2013, the World Health Assembly adopted the Mental Health Action Plan 2013 – 2020 and identified suicide prevention as an important priority for achieving the global target of reducing the rate of suicide in countries by 10% by 2020. Nigeria has shown commitment to this target by first establishing the new National Mental Health Programme in the Federal Ministry of Health to provide strategic leadership on mental health activities and also worked closely with the National Assembly to develop a new mental health bill that aligns with international standards.”
Dr. Walter further urged the government of Nigeria to assent to the mental health bill, even as he pledges the WHO’s continuous support for suicide prevention and control in the country.
“In the coming weeks, we will be supporting the review and update of the 2013 National Mental Health Policy, development of a national framework for suicide prevention, and commemoration of the 2022 World Mental Health Day.”
Adding that raising awareness is paramount to reducing the stigma around suicide, and encouraging well-informed action.
“We can reduce instances of suicide in our country and inadvertently around the world. We can all play a role in supporting those experiencing a suicidal crisis or those bereaved by suicide whether as a member of society. We can all create hope through action and be the light.”
The theme of this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day is “Creating hope through action” celebrated every 10th of September to raise awareness that suicide is preventable as well as a reminder of an alternative to suicide.
