A psychiatrist and Clinician in Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Dr. Ninyo Omidiji, has raised concern over the growing rate of suicide among young Nigerians.
He said on Tuesday in Abuja that taking serious measures to prevent suicide has become necessary because of the evidence of an increase in the menace.
He made this assertion against the backdrop of the commemoration of the World Suicide Prevention Day with the theme: “Working together to prevent suicide,” noting that suicide attempt is now becoming an option among young Nigerians. He added that the situation calls for concern and must be “nipped in the bud’’.
He regretted that while suicide receives a lot of attention in the developed world, it is a different case with Nigeria and other African countries as it has not been given the needed attention
Omidiji said that a number of interplay of factors could be responsible for suicide, adding that they could be classified as individual, socio-cultural and situational.
According to him, the individual risk factors include mental disorders, and clinical depression tops the chart.
Other individual risk factors, according to him include alcohol and substance abuse, feeling of hopelessness, previous suicide attempts and impulsive behaviours.
He added that other factors include history of physical, psychological or sexual abuse, isolation and lack of social support, major physical and prolonged illnesses and family history of suicide.
They also include stigmatism of mental health and health-seeking behaviours and lack of access to healthcare facilities.
“Others are cultural and religious beliefs that can seek to present suicide as a viable option, inappropriate media reporting of unnecessary suicide details which can lead to suicide contagion.’’
He listed the situational risk factors to include major financial losses, chronic financial difficulty, breakdown or loss of significant relationships, and major stressful life events among others.
Omidiji said that to curtail the menace of suicide, there should be a massive public health awareness on mental health issue, which according to him account for 90 per cent cases of suicide.
He said that attempt should also be made to de-stigmatise mental health and suicide through aggressive public health campaign while calling for a review of mental policy.
“Suicide and suicide attempts record should be made available in every local government to facilitate research and follow up of individuals who have attempted suicide in order to offer help,’’ he said.
World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on September 10 every year to promote worldwide action to prevent suicides.
Nigerian Tribune
