World Suicide Prevention Day: Psychologist provides insight on rising cases

On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, blind 65-year-old Ewenla Adetomiwa, was stopped from jumping into the lagoon along the Third Mainland bridge.

Adetomiwa, a father of two, aged 16 and 12, when asked why he decided to take such severe action, responded that he couldn’t bear the financial strain on his family.

Sadly, unlike him, a middle-aged woman simply identified as Mama Dada could not be saved as she set herself ablaze over a N70,000 debt, last year.

Mama Dada, who sent her last born child to buy fuel was depressed over her inability to repay the loan thereby burning herself beyond recognition, razing the entire building in Oke-Keesi, Itoko area of Abeokuta, Ogun State,

Recently, Oluwaseun Shorinola a 32-year-old man was reported to have committed suicide due to the current economic hardship facing the country.

His lifeless body was seen by his wife hung on the wall of their house in the Kemta area of Abeokuta.

Because of theseamong others, September 10 is chosen to celebrate the World Suicide Prevention Day, (WSPD) organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in collaboration with WHO.

The triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day for 2024-2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to action “Start the Conversation”.

Suicide not limited to a particular race

Suicide, the act of taking one’s life when faced with troubling life’s challenges is not limited to a particular race, colour, or even geographic area.

According to a 2021 survey by the World Health Organization, WHO, globally, more than 720, 000 people die by suicide yearly, which is one person every 40 seconds.

In Africa, Nigeria is listed the 13th highest suicide mortality rate with males having a higher rate of 9.9 per 100,000 population while females have a rate of 9.2 per 100,000 population.

People who commit suicide lacks support system – Counseling Psychologist

A counseling psychologist based in Ogun State, Mrs Damilola Onebamhoin has asserted that the major reason people contemplate suicide is because they do not have a support system.

Onebamhoin, popularly known as Coach D, while explaining that suicidal thought is not built in one day rather over the time, advised people to surround themselves with persons who genuinely love, care and do not place unreasonable expectations on them in order to counteract suicidal thoughts.

Suicide, depression, isolation and mental health is a circle

While asserting that suicidal thought begins with depression, progresses to isolation and then mental health, Onebamhoin admitted that the economic hardship can contribute to the menace.

She stated that majority of isolated persons experience suicide thoughts when they are depressed thereby seeking comfort from alcohol and drug abuse.

“Suicidal thought strives in isolation so once you find out that you are idle then it can set in.

“There is always a reason people have suicidal thoughts. It is actually connected to our mental health, so suicide, depression, isolation and your mental health is a circle.

“Some people say it’s because of economic hardship, yes, but the truth is when you begin to feel less of yourself, there’s something that connects your self esteem and achievement to depression.

“Most people who probably have their goals outlined and then meet those goals find fulfillment and sometimes hardly fall into depression.”

Society plays a role

Coach D bemoaned how unexpected pressures from society— such as having children by a particular age, getting married and having a career, among other things, had caused and created rooms for depression.

She said, “Some people have what we call mid-life crisis. You know the society has passed some norms like when you are 30-32 years of age they expect you to be married but there’s no law that says you must be married at 30.

“So when you find out that at 33,34 you’ve had four to five failed relationships you start stigmatizing yourself, comparing yourself and feeling like you have not achieved a lot.”

Government at all levels should provide free counseling

The federal and state governments have been urged to prioritize the mental health of its citizens by establishing a free counseling line where anyone experiencing depression or suicidal thought, regardless of their financial situation, can call for assistance.

She pointed out that every conversation, no matter how small, fosters empathy, breaks down barriers, reduces obstacles, increases awareness and creates better cultures of support.

“In advance country, most time you find out that they have free counseling line that you can call randomly, so even if you’re feeling like that, you are not calling your family that may even be the reason for that thought you’re calling somebody neutral entirely and asking for help or talking about what you are going through.

“If we have such, it can help because over time, we have realized that people find it hard to speak with familiar faces about such,” Onebamhoin added.

To stop suicide thoughts, she suggested, however, that citizens should surround themselves with positive people, avoid dwelling on their problems, and elevate themselves above their flaws.