Group moves to de-market suicide, appeals for mental health hotlines

Disturbed by the growing trend of suicide, a group has initiatied a campaign to dessuade Nigerians from seeing the act as a solution to their problems.

The group, Suicide Is No Solution (SINS), a non-profit organisation said it was worried with the number of people that take their lives, a practice that may worsen as a result of the COVID-19 occasioned economic downturn.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says about 800,000 people die yearly and one person every 40 seconds by suicide- the second major cause of death worldwide after road injuries. It also warns that for every adult death by suicide, there are over 20 others attempting it.

With these realities, SINS in a statement by it Media Lead, Babatunde Muraina, said it was launching series of advocacy activities, interactive events and counselling support to highlight the increasing tide of deaths by suicide amongst Nigerians.

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It said it would provide professional support to would be victims with a view to dissuading them from committing suicide as a team of mental health practitioners, religious leaders, social workers and volunteers have joined hands to support the cause in order to achieve its objective.

Quoting SINS’ Project Lead Mrs. Idy Toye-Arulogun, Muraina said with one person in the world dying by suicide every 40 seconds and Nigeria ranking 15th on the global suicide index; there was a strong need to intensify the campaign against it.

“The SINS campaign encompasses multimedia communication messages for exposure in both traditional and new media platforms, a helpline and a back end professional counselling support structure to engage members of the public going through distress and depression.

“The group is optimistic that the SINS intervention will contribute to the mental well being of Nigerians and ultimately the reduction of deaths by suicide through various engagements,” it said.

SINS also urged the government to make issues of mental health a prioeity, advocating for dedicated hotlines for people having suicidal thoughts or going through depression to call and get expert help.