Gulu varsity to research on suicide

Jun 21, 2007

Gulu University has received £48,000 (about sh144m) to carry out research on the high suicide rate in Dzaipi sub-county in Adjumani district.

By Chris Ocowun

Gulu University has received £48,000 (about sh144m) to carry out research on the high suicide rate in Dzaipi sub-county in Adjumani district.

The money was donated by the Tropical Health Education Trust based in the United Kingdom.

The dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Emilo Ovuga, said: “Young people have been learning from adults that if life is difficult, then suicide is the alternative. Adjumani is losing the youth because of suicide. We want to reverse the trend.”

“By 2002, the rate of mental illness was high among adults in the area. One out of two needed mental health treatment. The rate might be one out of every six now,” he added.

He said the research would be carried out by the faculties of medicine and agriculture.

Ovuga said since the year began, the district had not received any case of suicide in Dzaipi sub-county, adding that in 2004, there were 127 cases out of every 100,000 people.

In 2005, there were 67 cases out of every 100,000 people and in 2006, only 47 suicide cases were reported.

He said the effects of the LRA war, coupled with the poor weather conditions leads to chronic poverty, which gives rise to depression and alcoholism, leading to suicide.

Ovuga noted that there have been more cases of suicide in the sub-county compared to other areas in Adjumani in the north.

“With support from the trust, we set up mental health programmes in Dzaipi and also trained village health workers in counselling,” Ovuga said.

He added that the university students would also teach the peasants better farming methods.
Ovuga said the university would also use the opportunity to collect data on agricultural output in the district.

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