Ugandans can prevent suicide this year

During the festive season, many stories of deaths and mostly suicides were common. Some recent headlines included; Pastor Kayanja’s police bodyguard commits suicide, PC Ben Langoya serving in Ntungamo District shoots himself over unknown reasons; Man strangles girlfriend, kills self over suspected HIV; UPDF officer’s son drowns in River Nile in suspected case of suicide from recovered notes.

These unfortunate incidents reinforce the urgency of the theme of last year’s World Mental Health Day (observed on October 10): Suicide Prevention.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), every 40 seconds someone loses their life to suicide. In response, WHO launched an awareness campaign called “40 seconds of action to raise awareness about the scale of suicide around the world and what role we can play to prevent it.”

Dr Devora Kestel, the director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO, reports that almost 800,000 lives are lost to suicide every year.
Suicide can be prevented and avoided. Contrary to popular belief that suicide and mental health issues are only of concern in western countries, we regularly face the same in Uganda and its impact in other lower income countries as well.

Suicide has lasting effects on communities as well as families. When someone dies by suicide, it is tragic to both the person whose life is lost as well as their family and community. Communities play critical roles in suicide prevention by providing social support to the most vulnerable individuals. In helping to prevent suicide, stigma has to be handled carefully. People who have attempted to die by suicide have to be treated well and not punished as some sections of the penal code show. For every death by suicide there are 20 more attempts.

The punishments and stigma associated with victims of suicide attempts most likely will lead people with suicidal ideation/ thoughts to delay or avoid seeking help and possibly accomplish their mission. The kind of reporting in the media about suicide should not have sensational language and details about the act of suicide should not be disclosed. This is to prevent others with suicidal thoughts from acting with those details in mind.

Communication, especially with members of our communities going through a difficult or tough time, helps in suicide prevention.
In the cases of suicide among forces, investigations often reveal relationship issues and financial matters as some of the causes.

The proposal by government to have police officers undergo regular mental checks is a good gesture in helping curb the high rate of suicide in the Forces. People who need our help should not be branded attention seekers. Suicide affects us all. Let us listen, talk and show empathy to persons who show suicidal tendencies.
Jimmy Odoki, Mental health advocate coordinator