The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suicide

  • A call to decriminalise suicide

    A call to decriminalise suicide

    • By Ameh Abba Zion

    Sir: More than 700,000 people die by suicide every year across the world, with 77% of those deaths occurring in low-income and middle-income countries. Nigeria’s suicide rate of 17.3 per 100,000 is higher than both the estimated rates for Africa (12.0 per 100,000) and the world (10.5 per 100,000). The suicide rate in the country increased to 9.9 per 100,000 in 2015, and Nigeria is currently ranked the 15th most suicide–prone nation in the world and 7th in Africa.

    Suicidal behaviour places a heavy burden on the nation in terms of the emotional suffering that families and communities experience, as well as the economic costs associated with medical care and loss of productivity.

    Nigeria’s landscape of mental health is marked by a long-standing culture of silence and stigmatization, perpetuating the suffering of millions who grapple with mental health challenges. The widespread occurrence of issues like anxiety and depression, along with more serious mental health conditions, has reached concerning proportions.  The stigma associated with mental health makes matters worse by discouraging people from getting help.

    A study conducted in Nigeria among adolescents shows that at least 20% of adolescents have had suicidal ideation, and at least 12% have attempted suicide. Globally, suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals ages 10-24. This is a complex and sensitive topic that demands our attention, understanding, and, most importantly, action to ensure that support is provided to those in need.

    Despite the alarming statistics, suicide is criminalized in Nigeria under the Criminal Code (s. 327). Any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year. Also in the Penal Code, whoever attempts to commit suicide and does an act towards the commission of that offense shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, with a fine, or with both.” This legal framework not only adds an unnecessary layer of distress to those contemplating suicide but also impedes efforts to address the root causes of this grave issue. Rather than provide the support and compassion needed, the law further isolates and stigmatizes individuals struggling with mental health challenges.

    In the last year and a half, suicide has been decriminalized in four countries: Ghana, Malaysia, Guyana, and Pakistan, which advocates claim is a sign of increased knowledge and comprehension of mental health. We must therefore learn from these countries, continue advocating for the repeal of laws criminalizing suicide, and replace them with legislation that emphasizes mental health support and intervention. By doing so, we take a significant step toward breaking down the barriers preventing those in crisis from seeking help.

    In addition to progressive legislation, a national suicide prevention strategy needs to be in place in Nigeria, along with adequate funding and resources allocated to mental health programs, facilities, and awareness campaigns. Education about mental health should be integrated into school curricula, workplaces, and community spaces to foster a culture of understanding and empathy.

    Read Also: Oyebanji unveils local fabrics hub for job creation in Ekiti

    Breaking the silence on suicide requires a collective effort from the government and the general public. Strengthening economic support and improving quality and access to healthcare at both primary and secondary care levels will help reduce untreated mental health conditions that can lead to people taking their lives by suicide.

    Community-driven initiatives can play a crucial role in creating a more compassionate and understanding society that will identify and support people at risk, which will help promote connectedness. Open conversations about mental health need to become the norm, destigmatizing seeking help and encouraging support networks for those in need.

    Decriminalizing suicide is not just a legal matter; it’s a human rights issue that calls for a fundamental shift in our societal approach to mental health.

    •Ameh Abba Zion,

    Abuja.

  • Man commits suicide after losing ₦2.5m in betting expedition

    Man commits suicide after losing ₦2.5m in betting expedition

    A middle-aged man identified as Mr. Onoh Chukwuma Richard has reportedly died after allegedly ingesting a poisonous substance, suspected to be a sniper.

    Richard, an indigene of Ututu, Arochukwu local government area of Abia state and resident of Umuahia, the state capital, was confirmed dead in a mission hospital in Umuahia North local government area of the state.

    Until his death, Richard was said to be the public relations officer of the Ututu Progressive Union.

    According to a report, his friends rushed him to the mission hospital some distance from his house.

    While the said mission hospital was yet to make public the cause of his death, a WhatsApp message he reportedly exchanged with a yet-to-be-identified politician friend that has been trending on social media showed that he took his life over his inability to repay ₦2.5m debt after a failed betting expedition.

    The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) was yet to make an official statement on the death of the young man.

    A police source claimed that there was no formal entry of the matter in their records, adding that, they heard the news just like every other person did.

    Read Also: Girl commits suicide in Adamawa over boyfriend’s death

    However, a source close to the deceased said the deceased was a Forex trader.

    Onoh posted a message on his Facebook wall, saying that it was his last day on earth and that he was going to meet his maker.

    Unknown to those reading the post, he had already consumed the insecticide before making the announcement.

    In his post, he thanked some individuals believed to be close to him, saying, “Today is my last day on earth! I’m going to meet my maker. Thank you Chima Anyaso, Ikukuoma Abia, Kelvin Jombo Onumah, Ekwueme Ohafia, and my friends. My spirit is with you all.”

    A source close to the deceased disclosed that the news of his death has left his widowed mother heartbroken.

    A friend, sharing the news of his demise, expressed heartbreak, recounting the futile attempts by medical professionals to revive him.

    Another Facebook user questioned the deceased’s decision, mentioning that Onoh had N1m and borrowed N1.5m to play a bet that failed, leading to his tragic end due to shame from debtors.

    A Facebook user, Ibeako Esther Chisom, wrote: “Onoh Chukwuma Richard, I am heartbroken. I watched the doctors and nurses giving you pressure to see if you could come back but all proved abortive and your pause dropped as the doctor confirmed you dead right in front of me and other of your friends.

    “Onoh Chukwuma Richard, you really cut down the plans God has for you by taking your life by yourself. Sleep on. I am heartbroken.”

    Another user, Obika James Abuchi, wrote, “U had 1m and borrowed 1.5m to play bet, it failed, cuz of the shame from debtors you took your life? Onoh who taught you this?”

  • I almost committed suicide over wrong accusation – Singer Moelogo

    I almost committed suicide over wrong accusation – Singer Moelogo

    British-Nigerian singer Moelogo has spoken about how he was at the point of committing suicide after being falsely accused and framed by his friends.

    The singer sheds light on the devastating impact of betrayal on his mental health which nearly destroyed him.

    Moelogo stated that before the incident, he had always believed that suicide victims were helpless.

    In a recent interview with Lagos’ Cool FM, the musician narrated how his friends stopped him from ending his life.

    Read Also: Why more men commit suicide in Africa, by CDC

    He claimed that his friends he had known for over a decade attempted to blackmail him to extort money from him because they thought he was wealthy.

    The singer stated that the incident nearly discouraged him from assisting others.

    He said: “I used to think people who commit suicide were weak until it happened to me. Then I realised that it’s not about you being strong, it can happen to anybody. That was the first time I ever felt like, ‘What’s the point? Let me just go.’

    “I’m just grateful that I had at least two people around me that time that showed me that ‘Guy, you’re here for a reason. Don’t worry, this will pass.’ And I thank God that I had evidence of what they were trying to accuse me of. The evidence was audio evidence from one of their family members. I heard my friends planning what they were about to do and I just cried. It was crazy. The audio evidence was what saved me from the law.” 

  • Why more men commit suicide in Africa – CDC

    Why more men commit suicide in Africa – CDC

    Dr Naeem Dalal, Advisor, Non-communicable Diseases, Injuries and Mental Health for Africa CDC, has stressed the need to stop cultural stereotypes that prevent African men from seeking emotional and mental wellness help.

    Dalal spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lusaka, Zambia, on the sideline of a parallel session on Youth Mental Health in Africa, at the International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) on Tuesday.

    According to him, this is necessary as statistics specifically show that more men die by suicide on the continent in Africa.

    The CPHIA, an annual event, is organised by the Africa Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), with the 2023 edition being hosted by the Government of Zambia.

    The CPHIA2023 has the theme: “Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture.’’

    The annual event runs from Nov. 27 to Nov. 30.

    Dalal is a Psychiatrist from Lusaka, Zambia, a youth mental health specialist and currently the National Mental Health, focal person and specialist for the Zambia National Public Health Institute.

    He said: “There is more active suicide amongst men.

    “When we talk about suicide, we need to understand two things. There’s suicide which is passive and suicide, which is active

    “Active suicide is where you die by suicide.

    “Passive suicide is where you have thoughts of dying by killing yourself or harming yourself, but you don’t go ahead with those thoughts. So, that’s passive suicide.

    “Now, when we talk about statistics specifically for men on the continent in Africa, more men die by suicide.

    Read Also: Army probes allege suicide by officer in Akwa Ibom

    “So, there’s more active suicide amongst men. For every 50 per cent of it, it is amongst the men that die and this is because men use more lethal with dying.’’

    Dalal highlighted some reasons that make men resort to suicide rather than seek help.

    “It’s also important to understand that men do not reach out for help for mental health concerns or issues that they face because of the culture that we have in Africa, where men are supposed to be supportive.

    “Men are supposed to be responsible and breadwinners in communities. Showing that part of vulnerability is not something that is accepted in our communities across the African continent in general.

    “And not just to stereotype it, but also to be factual that men are also taught not to be reaching out for help growing up as boys and boys are told to be strong and responsible.

    “So, this also causes an issue for men to reach out for mental health services, even when they are there.

    “These are the challenges we are facing,’’ he told NAN.

    Dalal proffered some solutions aimed at reducing suicide on the continent.

    “However, the solutions and the implementations that Africa CDC is currently carrying out is in the non-communicable diseases, injuries and mental health strategy.

    “They have flagship programmes that are looking at mental health advocacy for communities, looking also at men’s health.

    “But in addition, there’s also mental health fellowships that are coming up, where they will build capacity amongst healthcare workers to also seek mental health as a profession.

    “This is because the other challenge is in Africa; healthcare workers do not want to do mental health speciality.

    “These are the implementations that we are carrying out.

    “We are also promoting more advocacy amongst the younger generation because the third leading cause of death by suicide is from the ages of 15 to 29.’’

    According to Dalal, a lot of advocacy is ongoing especially by the Africa CDC through the African Union.

    “We are also advocating policy changes, where we make mental health applicable to the current realities that we are living,” he said.

    He commended Nigeria for recently passing a Bill on Mental Health. (NAN)

  • Breaking the silence: Towards zero male suicide

    Breaking the silence: Towards zero male suicide

    Sir: Every year, on International Men’s Day, the world turns its attention to the celebration of men and their positive contributions to society. However, amidst the applause and recognition, there exists a profound and often silent crisis – the alarmingly high rate of male suicide. As we commemorate, it’s imperative to shed light on the challenges faced by men, particularly the pervasive issue of mental health and suicide. The statistics are staggering: men are more likely to die by suicide than women in many parts of the world. Yet, this is not due to a greater desire for death, but rather a complex interplay of societal expectations, entrenched stereotypes, and a lack of adequate support systems.

    One of the fundamental challenges men confront is the burden of conforming to traditional masculine norms. The societal construct of masculinity often demands stoicism, emotional restraint, and an aversion to seeking help – traits that, when internalized, can become barriers to acknowledging and addressing mental health struggles. The pressure to appear strong and self-reliant often prevents men from reaching out for support when they need it most. However, the narrative is shifting. International Men’s Day presents an opportunity to challenge these norms and break the silence surrounding men’s mental health. It’s a day to advocate for change – to encourage open conversations about mental well-being, to dismantle stigmas associated with seeking help, and to redefine masculinity as an inclusive concept that embraces vulnerability, emotional expression, and seeking assistance when necessary.

    Addressing the issue of male suicide requires a multi-faceted approach. Firstly, it demands accessible and tailored mental health services specifically designed to meet the needs of men. These services should not only focus on treatment but also emphasize prevention, education, and outreach efforts. Additionally, fostering supportive environments in schools, workplaces, and communities is crucial. Encouraging empathy, understanding, and active listening can create spaces where men feel safe and comfortable discussing their emotions without fear of judgment or ridicule.

    Read Also: Army probes allege suicide by officer in Akwa Ibom

    Furthermore, raising awareness through education and advocacy initiatives plays a pivotal role. Promoting mental health literacy, teaching coping mechanisms, and breaking down stereotypes are essential steps towards creating a society that supports men in their struggles. 

    As we observe International Men’s Day, let us commit ourselves to the cause of zero male suicide. Let us break the silence and strive for a world where mental health is a priority for everyone, regardless of gender. By empowering men to seek help, fostering understanding, and reshaping societal perceptions, we can prevent the tragic loss of precious lives to suicide.

    It is time to transform the narrative, to create a world where every man feels comfortable seeking assistance, where reaching out for help is a sign of strength, and where zero male suicide is not just an aspiration, but a reality. Together, let us break the silence and pave the way towards a future where every man’s life is valued, supported, and cherished.

    • Akinola Ayobami Steven, akinolaa61@gmail.com
  • Benue man commits suicide in Abuja over debt

    Benue man commits suicide in Abuja over debt

    Terver Orfega, a 29-year-old man from Benue State, has committed suicide over his inability to repay a business loan.

    Until his untimely death, Orfega was the manager of Second Pot Restaurant, located at Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

    He is believed to have borrowed money to finance  his business but fell into depression after trying unsuccessfully to repay his debt.

    Read Also: Man commits suicide in Adamawa

    Orfega was found dead in his private room at a hotel in Garki on October 31, 2023, after drinking a toxic substance suspected to be Sniper.

    Her friend, Mercy Akwari, admitted that  Orfega once told her that he was struggling with depression,  but she did not take him seriously. The deceased hailed from Kwande Local Government area in Benue State.

  • Soldiers rescue woman from committing suicide

    Soldiers rescue woman from committing suicide

    Soldiers of the 81 Division have saved Mrs Francesca Spark, who plunged into the Lagos Lagoon around 81 Division Officers’ Mess, Marina, in an attempt to commit suicide.

    This was made known yesterday in a statement signed by Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni.

    Read Also: Presidency lambasts Obi for aspersions on Judiciary, INEC

    He said: “Soldiers operating under 81 Division NA have gallantly prevented a suicide attempt by Mrs Francesca Spark, who plunged into the Lagos Lagoon around 81 Division Officers’ Mess, Marina Lagos in an attempt to take her own life.”

  • Man commits suicide in Adamawa

    Man commits suicide in Adamawa

    A young man has been found hanging from a tree in the Adamawa State capital, Yola.

    Residents of Rumde, a community in Jimeta, the administrative centre of metropolitan Yola, woke up Saturday morning to find the youth hanging lifelessly.

    Some among the residents said they had performed the early morning Islamic prayer with the youth.

    They could not say why he s

    decided to take his life.

    Read Also: Prophet seeks patience with Tinubu for peaceful, prosperous nation

    Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, said in a statement that investigations had started on the incident.

    He said that following a report received about “a young boy that hanged himself around Rumde Baru, Yola North Local Government Area,  the Command’s  crime officers were deployed by the Commissioner of Police.”

    He explained that the crime officers were working in collaboration with medical experts to investigate the circumstances leading to the commission of the act.

  • Decriminalizing suicide in Nigeria

    Decriminalizing suicide in Nigeria

    By: Samuel Jekeli

    SIR: Suicide is a global public health concern with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities. In Nigeria, like many other countries, suicide is still considered a crime under the law. This archaic legal perspective not only perpetuates the stigma surrounding mental health but also hampers efforts to prevent and address suicide effectively.

    Suicide is a tragic manifestation of mental and emotional suffering. In Nigeria where traditional values and cultural norms play a significant role in shaping society, mental health issues often go unaddressed. Stigma, shame, and discrimination deter individuals from seeking help, even when they are at their most vulnerable. The criminalization of suicide further exacerbates the problem, driving those in need further into the shadows.

    Nigeria’s Criminal Code which dates back to colonial times, expressly labels suicide as a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment. This legal stance reflects an outdated understanding of suicide, one that ignores the complexities of mental health and the desperation felt by those who contemplate it. Instead of offering help and support, the law imposes punitive measures on those who are already suffering.

    The primary reason to decriminalize suicide in Nigeria is rooted in a humanitarian perspective. When individuals are at their lowest points, struggling with mental health issues, they need understanding, compassion, and access to professional help, not the threat of incarceration. Decriminalization is a vital step towards reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging people to seek the assistance they need.

    By decriminalizing suicide, society acknowledges that these individuals are not criminals but victims of their own suffering. This shift in perspective can help remove the barriers preventing those in distress from reaching out for support. It paves the way for a more compassionate response to mental health crises, which is a fundamental aspect of building a healthier, more empathetic society.

    Read Also: UNILORIN female student commits suicide over alleged debt

    In Nigeria, as in many other societies, mental health issues are often stigmatized and misunderstood. By decriminalizing suicide, we can initiate a broader conversation about mental health, reducing the harmful stigmatization that surrounds it. This, in turn, can encourage people to be more open about their struggles and seek the help they need without fear of judgment or legal consequences.

    Decriminalization allows for a shift in societal attitudes, emphasizing that mental health problems are real illnesses that deserve proper treatment and support, just like any physical ailment. It sends the message that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but an act of courage. In doing so, we create an environment where individuals are more likely to reach out for assistance and where families and communities can provide the necessary support.

    While there are compelling reasons to decriminalize suicide in Nigeria, there are also challenges and concerns that must be addressed. Some individuals worry that decriminalization might encourage suicide. However, there is little evidence to support this claim. In fact, decriminalization is more likely to encourage those in distress to seek help rather than resort to suicide.

    Additionally, decriminalization does not mean condoning or promoting suicide. Rather, it acknowledges the complexities of mental health and provides a more compassionate framework for addressing the issue. Preventing suicide remains a crucial goal, but the focus should shift from punishment to support, awareness, and prevention.

    Decriminalizing suicide in Nigeria is an urgent need in the journey toward fostering a more compassionate and understanding society. Criminalization perpetuates stigma, fear, and isolation for individuals struggling with mental health issues, hindering their ability to seek help and support. By shifting our perspective on suicide, we can build a society that emphasizes compassion, support, and the value of mental health.

    This change in approach is essential for improving the well-being of Nigerians and ensuring their human rights are respected. It’s time for Nigeria to recognize that decriminalizing suicide is not just a matter of law but a fundamental matter of humanity.

    • Samuel Jekeli, Centre for Social Justice, Abuja.

  • Suicide and the courage of living

    Suicide in the Nigerian traditional context is a taboo, a crime against earth just as much as a murder. It is totally forbidden.

    A suicide in the traditional concept is never given any burial rite but corpse is usually dragged into the forest or other reserved places for such and left on the ground as food for the vulture, hyenas and other carnivorous animals to devour.

    Even at that, the family had to come up with a fine which is used to purify the home, the family and the community. These acts as a sort deterrent to others, especially the younger ones, watching, hence in the traditional society we emerged from, suicide is never a option. It is almost unheard of as the crude retreatment of the suicide body raves fear in all.

    The sixth commandment of the Ten Commandments given by Moses was quite emphatic, “thou shall not kill”, though many biblical scholars have argued that what Moses actually said in the original text was, “thou shall not murder”, not, “thou shall not kill”.

    It makes sense, as the states, when in the execution of a convicted felon for capital offence could be said to have breached that law of injunction not to kill, except properly interpreted as murder while a soldier on the battlefield must as a matter of necessity kill his opponent or be killed.

    The law as it is today cannot punish a successful suicide as he is no more there to feel the punishment but there is a law against attempted suicide which every magistrate will think twice before evoking as the offender will only get to prison and begin to look for a way or manner to finish what he began; therefore, an unsuccessful suicide is at the first opportunity confined to a psychiatric hospital for medical attention.

    Suicide is some form of manic depression occasioned by so many factors, raging of the mind of the individual against some unfair or unjust treatment that could be not be righted; shame, fear anxiety and others leading to a total loss of the will to go on living, to go on existing. It is an abandonment of hope.

    Sometimes, that unfortunate individual seek only to attract attention to himself or herself to gain sympathy or empathy for wrongs he or she had committed against friends or societies believing that the society will neither tolerate nor condone such behaviour.

    However, the rate at which suicide and suicidal intentions have gone up in the country is becoming overwhelming, unbearable and unexplainable, especially among the youths, a carefree taking of life, theirs, as if such life has a spare part.

    When a girl of 14 kills herself because of a boyfriend, it is a shame on the parent and on the society. When a boy of 17 kills himself for any reason whatsoever, it is no less a shame. It is a sign of total inhibition, of lack of respect for human life. It is not much different from what the suicide bombers of Boko Haram are doing.

    The truth is, our society is somewhat failing; the traditions, the ethos the convictions we had lived by have been eroded, degraded and uprooted by the uncensored films , uninhibited adult nuances, juvenile delinquencies, broken homes, cultism peer pressure, misuse of drugs, the worship of god of mammon in our places of worships of the detriment of salvation of the soul; failing standard of devoted teachers, negative indoctrination failed parenthood, the ,list could go on ad nauseum, ad infinitum.

    Whatever may be the case, suicide is not the alternative to all or any of these problems. No human being has a right to see himself or herself as a tragic figure, nor is it an escapist route to another world when the present world has not been fully exploited or fully challenged.

    Death is a necessary end, yes, but I do believe after all said and done that suicide is a cowardly end. It is a living in the face of vicissitude and so much aridity that takes courage and as Shakespeare puts it in Julius Caesar: cowards die many times before their death, but the valiant never taste of death but once”. In my book a suicide is not a valiant.

    It takes courage to live, to swim against the tide; through the drudgeries of life, the failed dreams, the spiteful friend, the disappointments at work, at play, in school on the road… anywhere there is a call for the life, there is courage of existence, a courage of living and as Chief Obafemi Awolowo once espoused “It is not life that matter but the courage you bring to it”…. “Blessed are those things which becometh the making of a man”.

    If Adam had committed suicide at the first accusation of breach of contract by the Almighty, no human being would have been in existence as God Almighty perhaps might write off humanity as a failed experience. No, he did not commit suicide but took his faith in hand imbued with the courage of living.

    Young people must be taught high and lofty ideals, in the home, at school and in all religious centres as also in their clubs boy scouts girl’s guide, Red Cross, green crescent wherever they could reached.

    Our ministers of religion must equally be made to understand that as role models, they cannot afford ostentatious living; they cannot worship God and mammon at the same time, they should not be seen to be sending the wrong signals to the upcoming generations, since we are living in a hyper capitalist society. Nobody grudge them their money but they should enjoy it quietly not flaunting it in the face of the hungry teeming millions (revolutionaries will say masses).

    Young people must be taught to live in harmony with each other to watch out for one another and report any case of unwarranted depression to any elderly person around. In short, they must be taught to be each other’s keepers.

    Most importantly they must be taught to live in harmony with their souls and must strive to ameliorate the chord which bind their souls which in actual fact is a personal matter between that person and his soul and the each person must attempt through his or her religious status or by sheer meditation, a thorough understanding of the knowledge of God which is the eternal relationship between that person and God.

    Problem must be seen holistically as a challenge not a stoppage or an end to existence. Problems of life are a challenge at physical, psychological and spiritual growth and sometimes a call to physical, psychological and spiritual amelioration and elevation; they are the point of the darkness, closest to the light of salvation. Problems are a definitive challenge that will pass like everything good and bad, they are turning points for a few new way of life. They will pass.

    God tests no man beyond his capacity or enduring limit. The test before you is not beyond your point of elasticity, at any point in time where the burden of cross weigh you down, God  always will and always have, provided helpers, provided you are patient enough .

    Those who do not encounter challenges of life, vicissitude in life test of existence and challenge of living are those who have passed to the great beyond. As for us that are living, “May God give us hills to climb and strength for climbing”.

     

    • Chief Alaba is a legal practitioner.