Suicide rates can be reduced in Uganda

By Benjamin Lutimba Mutebi

Globally by WHO statistics, annually close to 800,000 people die as a result of suicide and this translates into one death every 40 seconds.

Reference is made to the recent public suicide cases in Kampala. We are all aware that many forms of suicide happen silently across the country and some go unregistered; however according to World health rankings data in 2014, Uganda is position number 17 registered with suicide as a cause of death. 18.67 per 100,000 deaths are due to suicide in Uganda.

This is how I think we can combine efforts to help reduce the rate. In our society, If we identify someone who may be troubled, ask them outright if they are having thoughts of suicide. I know it is not a comfortable conversation, but it is a lot more comfortable than attending their funeral.

We also have a number of special national and International days that the government of Uganda takes lead in commemorating and so I believe that once the World Suicide Prevention day comes, it should be commemorated annually and it should be used as a special day to sensitize Ugandan's on how suicide can be prevented. In the past, the sensitisation has been done on selected media platforms in Uganda especially the English print media but there is need to have it across platforms to make sure that many more Ugandans are reached.

Apart from suicide due to mental illnesses, also mental experts reveal that suicide is also the ultimate stage four of many people suffering from a number of chronic illnesses such as HIV and Cancer. This implies that having such illnesses well managed will also reduce suicide cases.

In the US, 50% of all suicide cases recorded are gun related and we have also registered a number of them in Uganda within the Police & military in the recent past. This means that there is need to make firearms safer as a means of reducing the risk of suicide.

WHO experts reveal that early identification and treatment of depression and alcohol use disorders are key for the prevention of suicide...as well as follow-up contact with those who have attempted suicide, and psychosocial support in communities.

Therefore, I personally believe that given the above issues, it is not right to say that suicide victims are cowards. These are strong individuals that just need psychosocial support.

The writer is a monitoring and evaluation specialist