Feeling depressed, seek help before committing suicide

­Recently, the media was awash with stories of soldiers shooting themselves.

Sadly, committing suicide is a trend that seems to be taking root in the country.

A recent study by three psychiatrists at the Faculty of Medicine at Makerere University reflects the trend. "Suicide cases are common nowadays, especially among young people aged 20-35years," the study states.

A survey done in 2004 by the Ministry of Health among 4,660 adults in 14 districts showed that 15% of respondents, or one in six, had tried to commit suicide, and 12%, or one in eight, had done so within one year prior to the survey. However, the actual number of people attempting to or actually committing suicide is bigger than what is recorded because many of these cases are not reported.

Despite the Penal Code Act that states that anybody in Uganda caught attempting to commit suicide is guilty of a felony and can be imprisoned for up to two years, this has not  stopped people from hanging themselves using ropes, jumping from tall buildings, shooting themselves, taking an overdose of drugs and poisoning themselves.

The reasons for committing suicide are diverse; for some, it is love gone bad, others it is about lost money, while others did it out of revenge.

Emma Komagum, a psychiatrist at Butabika Hospital, says one of the many causes of suicide is depression. Depression is not an illness, but a psychological issue that can be treated with psychotherapy. However, many people are not informed on how to deal with it. Anybody can go for counselling, rehabilitation at a health facility such as Mulago Hospital and there is no charge," he said.

People who fall victim of suicide, he says, have gone through psychological torture such as loss of loved ones, unemployment, the highly demanding lifestyles, or the unfaithfulness of a partner.

Frank Nsubuga, a counsellor at Wakiso Health Centre IV, says: "I have had many cases of suicide during my practice and the greatest challenge is that Ugandans do not know that help exists and thus do not seek it. Usually medical assistance is the last option, yet it is important. Aside from that there are leaders in churches, schools and the communities where young people live. They have the help they need. Counsellors can only do so much if the young people are willing to get the help," he says.