Following the increasing occurrences of suicides around Nigeria in recent times, Adedayo Showemimo has waded into the matter.
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According to the World Health Organisation, every 40 seconds, one person commits suicide somewhere in the world, which tallies to 800,000 suicides annually, worldwide and if you own a smartphone in this part of the world, you would have surely read one or two suicide stories in the past week.
Back in 2016 when Psychologist and lecturer at the University of Lagos, Prof. Oni Fagbohungbe, said that suicide may increase in Nigeria, we all laughed it out as a social media joke.
In his words, 'With failure, frustration here and there and inability to do things one’s heart desire, self-reproach comes in. Then, aggression also comes in. The individual reacts to the society which is perceived as the cause of your failure. These are the kinds of situation that aggravate suicidal tendencies'.
With recent happenings in the country, the reality is setting it and we can go on to list the countless numbers of suicides reported in the past week.
1. The story of 35 year old medical doctor, Allwell Orji who parked his car and leaped off the 3rd mainland bridge is still very fresh in our minds.
2. There's also the news of a 60 year old man, a chieftain of PDP, Dr Isaac Ojukwu who committed suicide by setting himself on fire in a rented hotel
3. And then the story of the young Fulani boy whose body was spotted hanging from a tree in a bush at Lariye Village in Zaki
Not to mention the series of suicides on Facebook live and of course the many suicides stories that never make the news or get on blogs.
So what really is the problem?
Experts say financial and economic troubles push many to the edge in Nigeria, which is rated 103 out of 157 countries in the United Nation’s 2016 World Happiness Report.
The prevailing economic crisis, recession and poverty in the country is obviously a factor to consider in all these. But then, suicide is really not a new thing.
A 2012 report by WHO states that over 800,000 people die of suicide annually and that it is the second cause of death among young people between 15-29 years.
How to Help a Suicidal Person
At this rate, we all need to do more, we must genuinely show love and concern for people around us and here are a few tips that can help us all save lives in these trying times.
- Always take suicidal comments very seriously. When a person says that he or she is thinking about suicide, you must always take the comments seriously. Assuming that the person is only seeking attention is a very serious, and potentially disastrous, error. Get help immediately.
- Listen attentively to everything that the person has to say. Let the person talk as much as he or she wants to. Listen closely so that you can be as supportive as possible, and learn as much as possible about what is causing the suicidal feelings.
- Let the person know that you are deeply concerned. Tell the person that you are concerned, and show them that you are concerned. A suicidal person is highly vulnerable and needs to feel that concern.
- Comfort the person with words of encouragement. Use common sense to offer words of support. Remember that intense emotional pain can be overwhelming, so be as gentle and caring as possible. There is no script to use in situations like these, because each person and each situation is different. Listen carefully, and offer encouraging words when appropriate.
- Don't be judgmental. Do not invalidate anything that the person says or feels. The person is probably suffering from a chemical imbalance in the brain, and thus could not possibly think clearly. Be supportive and caring, not judgmental, but get help immediately.
- Be careful of the statements that you make. You do not want to make the person feel any worse than he or she already does. Again, the person is probably suffering from a chemical imbalance in the brain and is thus extremely sensitive.
- Listen, listen, listen. Be gentle, kind, and understanding. Again, allow the person to talk as much as he or she wants. Always listen very attentively, and encourage him or her to talk more. Be as gentle, kind, and understanding as possible.
- If the person is at a high risk of suicide, do not leave him or her alone. Do not leave a critically suicidal person alone for even a second. Only after you get professional help for the person can you consider leaving him or her.
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Written by Adedayo Showemimo