By Femi Ogunshola
The increasing cases of suicides across the world have continued to attract attention. Those committing suicide cut across gender, age, and social status.
Although there is no available data on the demography of suicides and suicide attempts, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a recent report said 800,000 people commit suicide every year globally.
Dr. Ninyo Omidiji, a Psychiatrist, and Clinician, at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, said suicide is the third leading cause of death, especially among young people the world over.
According to him, suicide is an aggression directed inwards, an intentionally inflicted harm on oneself, resulting in a fatal outcome.
“In your very locality, someone might just be contemplating taking his or her life as we speak. I wish we have a steady and holistic approach to supporting one another.
For inexplicable reasons, Lagos Lagoon is synonymous with suicide and suicide attempts for Lagos residents.
Instead of being a vehicle for trade and wealth creation, the lagoon has become a place where many choose to fatally end their frustrations on earth.
Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Emergency Agency, (LASEMA) recently bemoaned the spate of self-inflicted deaths on the waters below the famous Third Mainland Bridge.
According to him, the 11.8 kilometres long lagoon has witnessed a series of suicide cases in the last four months.
For instance, on November 11 an unidentified lady dived into the Lagos lagoon in an apparent case of suicide.
An official of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the lady alighted from a commercial cab on the bridge and plunged into the lagoon.
On March 18, a medical doctor committed suicide by jumping off the Third Mainland Bridge into the lagoon.
The victim, Dr. Orji Allwell, had asked his driver to park his black SUV with number plate LND 476 EE on the popular bridge and leaped into the lagoon.
The following day, another woman attempted to take her life by jumping into the Lagos lagoon.
She had jumped from Maza-Maza Bridge in the Mile 2 area of Lagos. However, she was rescued before she could drown.
An eyewitness said the woman was trekking and got to the middle of the bridge, climbed the railing, and jumped.
Dr. Olayinka Atilola, Consultant Psychiatrist, at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said most people who committed suicide could be doing it as a result of a mental health problem or a psychosocial challenge.
According to him, psychosocial problems include anxiety, depression, hostility, and hopelessness, which exist at the individual level.
He urged the government to ensure provide mental health services in each of the primary healthcare centres nationwide.
“The best approach to address suicide is that psychiatric help should be provided at every primary health centre, because many people solve their health problems at the primary level.
“The federal and state governments should endeavour to have a programme that allows people to talk about their health problem and other challenges of life that confront them daily”, he said.
Dr. Funmi Akinola, a Consultant Psychiatrist, at Yaba, Lagos said many factors could be responsible for suicide which; include failed relationships, sexual and physical assault, and financial challenges among others.
She said that these factors could have an emotional effect on an individual when they become overwhelming.
Akinola called on the government to think of establishing hotlines guidance and counseling.
Mr. Haruna Abdullahi, Publisher of World Entourage Magazine, while recounting his experience in a suicide attempt said the moment, he lost his mother he became empty and sullen.
“Yes, I am still empty, part of me covered in heaps, I lost it, the desire to live ceased and all my struggles of life were for the comfort of my mother.
“I took to adulthood early in life even as a child to see my mother happy. I was in the race to make her proud. I got married early to make her a grandmother.
“I wasn’t too pained that she died because Allah decreed that we shall all die, I was pained because of all the memories we shared”, he said.
“Death has a way of taking away the present, leaving you with biting memories; my mother died and left behind constricted memories of our yesterday.
He called on Nigerians to always engage the people around them, adding that they could be weighed down with depression.
A cleric, Bunmi Gabriel, said taking someone’s life as a result of depression will rather compound the problem than solve it, saying time heals all wounds.
He said suicide can be both physical and spiritual, stressing that physical depression can come as a result of not achieving the target as and when due.
“When you could not do those things you are targeting at a certain age, it can lead to physical depression.
He said one factor that can trigger suicide includes being depressed but refusing to talk to people about it.
“People should be encouraged to talk about their experience, especially to those who are of the same age bracket.
He advised those feeling uncomfortable with life to associate with people either in church, community meetings, or social gatherings where they can meet people and share their experiences.
Mr. Adedotun Ajiboye, Clinical Psychologist with Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti advised relations, friends, and colleagues of persons suffering from depression to be extra vigilant.
Ajiboye said people who suffered depression had the tendency to become suicidal, and called on friends and relationships to always be proactive once they notice any unusual behavour by their relative.
He said terminal medical conditions, poverty, loss of a loved one, or loss of money as other factors often lead a person to depression and contemplate suicide.
“People are passing through a lot of tough times and they may not want to share their experiences, so religious leaders must learn to engage people.
“We must call our loved ones regularly to check on their welfare and see how we can be of assistance, you do not know if that call will just save a life,” the psychologist said.
Unfortunately, suicides magnify problems that victim seeks to end. The victim leaves behind grieving relations who are likely to be thrown into deeper poverty due to losing their loved one and breadwinner. (NANFeatures)
