Addressing suicide among youths

By Maria Famakinwa
|
The alarming rate at which youths are committing suicide across the country is assuming a frightening dimension  and requires holistic approach to curb the trend.

In May 2019, Chukwuemeka Akachi, a 400 level students of the Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, committed suicide after taking two bottles of Sniper.

Akachi, according to report was said to be having mental health. In his suicide note, he wrote: “Forgive me in case you are the one who finds the body. I am really sorry. It had to be someone you know. I have chosen Jo Nketih’s poem as my suicide note. They said you came looking for me. I did not drown, I was the water. Where do atheists go to when they die? Lol Amen.”

 Akachi’s story was similar to that of Kolapo Olowoporoku, a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile -Ife, Osun State who took his life months ago after repeatedly failing some courses.

 Another 300-level medical student of Niger-Delta University, Uzakah Timi Ebiweni also killed himself late May 2019 by jumping into a river for failing his examination.  The same suicide story was reported in May this year of a 100-level student of University of Port Harcourt, Hikmot Gbadamosi after taking two bottles of Sniper due to depression.  Early May this year, a 26-year-old hairdresser, Kenile Nwabuzor committed suicide over protracted disagreement between her and her boyfriend identified as David.

Likewise was the reported heart rendering story of how a gospel artist, Michael Arowosaye took his life after hanging himself with his belt. Thus, bringing to the fore the disturbing dimension in which youths are losing the zeal to live in recent time as the list remain endless. The Hope spoke with some experts on how to curb the menace.

A psychologist, Mrs Modupe Adeogun explained that suicide happen mostly in moment of depression or crisis when there is a breakdown in the ability to deal with stress of life such as financial problem, relationship break-up, chronic pain and illness, disaster, violence, abuse or loss. “The current economic hardship in the country can provoke suicide. With failure, frustration, coupled with inability to achieve a set goals leading to self reproach could experience depression which can lead to suicide if the person does not get help immediately.”

 On how to address it, she advised that the government should take the issue of mental health serious as she added that it is only a sound mind that can produce a sound body. “When you observe the rate at which mad men roam the streets in the country, you will agree with me that our government is failing in the area of improving mental health condition of the citizens. If you advise people who are depressed to go and see a clinical psychologist or psychiatrists, they will think you are saying that they are mad. Nigerians need better orientation in this regard to curb suicide rate.”

 “Also, when you observed that someone who was lively and jovial suddenly avoid interacting with others, it is a sign of depression and the person need urgent help. One should also be wary when an individual starts asking people around questions like ‘Is it not better to end it now?’ This is also a symptom that the person needs help. Let the government do all it can to improve the economy and parents should  counsel their children against taking their lives due to poor academic performance or disappointment, none worth killing oneself for.”

In the submission of a Neuro Psychiatric Consultant, Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure, Dr Eniola Fabiyi, he explained that causes of suicide are multi factorial which could be biological that deals with gene, physical which may be as a result of physical pain like terminal illness, psychological which involves mental pain, hearing voices of unseen people, hopelessness and social factor which is very rampant because according to him when there is high level of unemployment and poverty in a country, citizens will find it difficult to meet the basic needs of life leading to depression which usher suicidal thoughts.

While analysing the solutions, Dr Fabiyi said that government, family and teachers have roles to play at ending the trend. “Parents and family members should serve as watchdog to one another, this will help to notice if anyone is depressed. For instance, if someone who is known to be jovial start to keep to his/herself, such should be assisted to seek help. Government at all levels should try and revive the ailing economy of the country, so that, people can get jobs and there should be regulations of system substance like alcohol.

“Teachers on their part should study and counsel students when they notice strange behaviours in them because parents cannot pick all the children’s behaviours at home. Teachers should serve as alternative parents in the school to the students.”

  Sharing similar sentiment, a teacher who is also a counselor in a private school, Mrs Toyin Odeyemi blamed the rising cases of suicide among youths on hardship and loss of family bound as she urges the government to embark on masses oriented policies to give hope to the hopeless. Suicide rate in Nigeria soars because life is not livable, today, Nigeria ranked fifth in the world among countries whose citizens are most prone to suicide. To worsen matters, our cultural, family and religious values are fast disintegrating which explains why a gospel artist who by all standard should be counselling people against suicide also fell to the same fate, due to untenable excuses”

  On steps to avert the tragic occurrence, she said that government at different levels should organise programmes where youths can be counseled against suicide. “The programme should involve religion bodies, social workers, parents and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) who will sensitise them to understand that committing suicide is not a solution to life challenges. The family which is a fundamental unit of the society should also be strengthened, when there is family bond, there will be love and unity among members and it  will help to detect quickly changes in anyone’s behaviour and take a step to assist. The social support of family is vital to addressing incessant suicide among youths.”