In recent times, the country has been grappling with economic crisis leading to widespread hardship.
Underemployment, unemployment, security challenges, food insecurity among other issues abound.
Many people have lost their jobs, while many are struggling to earn sustainable living wage.
Navigating through the economic storm, some people have been psychologically, socially and/or emotionally affected.
While some have the ability to overcome, others do not have such abilities, which leads to psychiatric illnesses.
Hence, the increasing incidences of suicide, depression, attempted suicide, deliberate self-harm and other forms of mental illnesses among Nigerians.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) of Aug. 29, 2024, no fewer than 720 000 people die due to suicide every year.
Seventy-three per cent of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds, and was the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally in 2021.
Some of the risk factors for suicide include depression, alcohol use disorders, relationship disputes, financial problems, loss, loneliness, discrimination, chronic pain and illness, violence, abuse, and conflict among others.
Suicide prevention remains a universal challenge. especially as every year, suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally for people of all ages.
The WHO identifies suicide as a serious public health problem that requires a public health response.
Speaking, Prof. Taiwo Sheikh, Coordinator, Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, underscored the need to address the issue of suicide with a focus on the need to prevent suicide, decriminalise attempted suicide, and give hope to victims; their families and the society.
Sheikh, also a Consultant Psychiatrist, emphasised the need for a shift in how the society handles suicide and its prevention, calling for unified action on suicide prevention and decriminalisation.
He identified economic hardships, frustration, financial instability, depression, mental health conditions, and insecurity as some of the psycho-social factors contributing to suicidal thoughts among Nigerians.
“Most times, people who attempt suicide do not ordinarily want to kill themselves, but the circumstances and challenges around lured them into the act.
“Hence, the need to address the challenges and render care and love to such people, rather than criminalising them,” Sheikh said.
The psychiatrist, therefore, called for collective action to prevent and address the determinants of suicide in the country,.
“Suicide prevention requires a holistic approach involving mental health professionals, policymakers, community and religious leaders, educators and all members of the society.”
He said that the increasing rate of suicide and its corresponding devastating effects made it pertinent for stakeholders including governments, families, individuals and organisations to collectively look at the issue with a view to addressing it.
According to him, suicide is a behaviour motivated by the desire to escape unbearable psychological pains.
Sheikh, who called for increased advocacy on suicide, provision of support through prevention and treatment, emphasised the need for decriminalisation of suicide to pave the way for effective suicide prevention and control in Nigeria.
“Effective prevention and intervention require a multilayered approach that encompasses community engagement, healthcare service enhancement and robust policy support.
“Hence, the need for social support system and education of the populace on the psychological determinants of suicide and how to cope with them,” he added.
Also speaking, another consultant psychiatrist, Dr Taiwo Obindo, said that some Nigerians might be prone to developing mental health conditions, due to the visible hardships in the country.
Obindo said that the current economic hardship, coupled with the level of poverty and other social factors in the country might likely inflict mental illness on more Nigerians.
He listed the social factors to include high cost of living, kidnapping, financial problems, inflation, child abuse, rape, broken homes and broken marriages, traumatic experiences and degrees of violences among others.
Obindo explained that people who were predisposed to the social factors were more likely to develop mental health issues particularly this period the country was faced with lots of economic challenges.
According to him, the Nigerian society is a culture medium for organisms that put people at risk of mental illness.
Obindo, who identified poverty as a leading cause of mental health illness, lamented that many Nigerians were battling with poverty; saying that might predispose them to mental health conditions.
“The devastating effects of inflation, poverty, insurgent attacks, insecurity and other social crisis across the country, had left several people in need of psychiatric evaluation.
”In some cases, the individuals may not even know they are being exposed to mental health conditions; but the truth remained that the social crisis are taking a toll on the mental health well-being of the citizens.
“No doubt, the situation has resulted to an increase in the number of mental health cases.
“If you look at the degrees of social crisis and hardships and compare it with what goes on in other climes, you will discover that we have a greater predisposition to developing mental illness,” he said.
He lamented that victims of rape or kidnapping suffer high degrees of trauma, which also affect their mental health.
Quoting statistics from the WHO, Obindo said that no fewer than 64 million Nigerians had one form of depression or the other, saying that depression and stress were major predisposing factor to mental illness.
He also said that statistics from WHO had indicated that one in every four Nigerians might develop mental health issues in their lifetime.
According to him, the development is made worse, as there are fewer mental health facilities/workers such as psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists and others, in the country, to treat and manage patients.
The psychiatrist lamented that more than half of the number of mental health workers had been attracted to foreign countries.
“Researches have shown that one out of four Nigerians will have a mental health related problem in their lifetime and we have less number of qualified psychiatrists in the country to manage them.
“We don’t have enough mental health facilities and workers in the country and even the few that we have are all being attracted out of the country,” Obindo said.
Contributing, Dr Salawu Abiola, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital Yaba, canvassed the need for adequate control and management of feelings/emotions to avert adverse effects of mental depression.
Abiola, also a psychiatric doctor , said that mental depression had became rampant among the populace; particularly the adults and youths.
He said that the increase of depression cases made it pertinent that more attention should be paid to it to avert adverse effects on the populace and economy.
According to him, every average Nigerian is mentally depressed, saying that depression can be normal, and is only an indicator of underlying disease when feelings become excessive and interfere with daily living.
Abiola listed causes of mental depression to include restless sleep, stress, anxiety, financial troubles, repeatedly going over thoughts, childhood trauma, a job loss or a divorce among others.
The psychiatric doctor added that certain medical conditions may also trigger depression, including an underactive thyroid gland, cancer, heart disease, prolonged pain and other significant illnesses.
“Depression can affect people of all ages, races and socio-economic classes, and can strike at any time.
“People with depression may experience a variety of symptoms, but most commonly, “a deep feeling of sadness or a marked loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities,” Abiola said.
He said that engaging in positive activities that give happiness, while avoiding anger could help prevent depression.
He explained that anger produces a physiological crash, saying that the angrier one got, the more depressed the person would be.
According to him, anger elevates blood pressure, increases threat of stroke, heart diseases, cancer, depression, anxiety and in general depresses the immune system.
Abiola, therefore, advised that people should learn to control and manage their feelings/emotions at any given time in order not to fall into depression.
“The inability to control emotions and feelings is the major cause of depression.
“If one is in a happy state, it means less of troubles, stress and better wellbeing; but if one is unhappy there will be depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and stress disorder.
“Depression is a significant problem that has affected some youths which has made them to be drug addicts or abusers and even attempt suicide,” he said.
A Psychiatric Nurse, Mrs Veronica Ezeh, urged Nigerians to keep hope alive, speak out and always seek help even in face of the biting economic hardships in the country.
Ezeh, also the President, Adicare Rehabilitation Home, an NGO, said that the citizens should continue to keep hope alive for a better Nigeria because nothing last forever, saying that things would get better someday.
While she said that the economic situation in the country was not favourable, particularly, to the common man, Ezeh lamented that the masses were suffering, which could lure them to suicidal thoughts.
“The situation of things in the country is very disturbing. Virtually everyone is affected, even though some may seem to be comfortable, but the truth remained that the masses are suffering.
“But people should not give up hope of a better tomorrow; they should keep hope alive for a better Nigeria because nothing last forever; it will get better someday,” she said.
Ezeh advised that people should always speak out, seek help when facing challenges to avoid suicide.
Ezeh, who identified poverty and frustration as the main causes of suicide, regretted that some people in difficult economic situations had considered suicide rather than speaking out or seeking for help.
She, therefore, implored governments at all levels to urgently address the economic hardship in the country and revive the economy to reduce poverty, improve living standards and prevent suicide.
Agreeing on one of the most effective strategies to addressing suicide, the professionals came to conclusion that individuals who attempt suicide need compassion, evidence-based mental health support, love and care, and not jail, as was the case in Nigeria.
They said the laws that criminalise suicide attempts should be repealed and replaced with laws that support human rights, in order to change the narrative of suicide and suicide attempt in Nigeria.
According to them, the level of hardships and high cost of living in the land calls for immediate attention.
They, therefore, implored governments at all levels to urgently address the economic hardship in the country and revive the economy to reduce poverty, improve living standards and curb the incidence of suicide among the populace.(NANFeatures)
