Suicide is defined according to the act or an instance of taking one’s life voluntarily and intentionally. It often happens to people who feel they have nothing else in life to live for, people who feel they have no hope, people who are worried or troubled about the situations of life they are going through and as a result they are just tired of life and feel the only way out is just to die. Suicide is also sometimes seen as the fast escape route to the troubles of life, which in reality is not so; because as long as a person is Alive, then there is still hope!

According to The World Health Organization (WHO), it is reported that over 800, 000 people die every year, and at least one person takes their life every 40 seconds. In Nigeria in 2016, WHO reported over 17,710 suicide cases, which included 9, 300 males and 8,410 females. These cases put Nigeria as Africa’s leading country with highest numbers of Suicide cases then, next behind was Ethiopia and South Africa. It was also reported in an article by Rebecca Akinremi, that the three most common methods people used in carrying out suicides in Nigeria were: Hanging, pesticides and shooting.

It is important to note that some of the reasons for suicides, as stated by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could include but not limited to the following: feelings of hopelessness, history of mental disorders/clinical depression, barriers to accessing mental health, isolation of feeling cut out from people, previous suicide attempt, history of alcohol and substance abuse, cultural and religious belief,  unwillingness to seek help due to stigma attached to mental health & substance abuse disorders or to suicidal thoughts, etc.

Considering the causes of suicide as stated above, it is imperative for us all to be vigilant and watch out for people around us who might be contemplating suicide or having suicidal thoughts. According to an Healthline article, here are ways to identify people with suicidal thoughts, the warning signs to look out for are: Threats or comments about killing themselves, dramatic mood swings, impulsive or reckless behavior, increased alcohol or drug abuse, aggressive behavior, social withdrawal form friends, family& community; talking, writing or thinking about death.

It is highly important that anytime the above signs are noticed in an individual, we must ensure that we (individuals, family and society) step in to help to save such person (s) from executing what they have in their mind and as such lead to their death. Here are practical ways we can help people with suicidal thoughts:

• Ask if the person is having suicide thoughts & Acknowledge the person’s feelings.
• Listen to the person and take them serious when they are talking to you about it.
• Encourage the person to talk and express how they are feeling.
• Provide support in whatever form or way you can.
• Speak to the person with calmness and in a reassuring manner.
• Reassure the person of help available and encourage the person to seek professional help from a doctor or a mental health provider.

Finally, we can all help in keeping people with suicidal thoughts alive by providing being observant to people around us especially when they are exhibiting strange and unusual behaviors as we have identified previously; and when these people are identified, we need to take urgent steps by supporting them overcome such unpleasant thoughts and help them HOPE, DREAM & LIVE again!!!

References:

• April Kahn. What You Should Know About Suicide. December 20, 2019. https://www.healthline.com/health/suicide-and-suicidal-behavior
• Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention. Risk and Protective Factors: Risk Factors for Suicide. Last reviewed: September 3, 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/riskprotectivefactors.html
• Camh. Suicide. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/suicide
• Rebecca Akinremi. Nigeria has highest suicide rate in Africa, sixth globally. International Centre For Investigative Reporting (ICIR). Sept. 9, 2019. https://www.icirnigeria.org/nigeria-has-highest-suicide-rate-in-africa-sixth-globally/
• World Health Organization. Mental Health and Substance Use. https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/suicide-data#:~:text=Close%20to%20800%20000%20people,prevent%20suicide%20and%20suicide%20attempts.