Suicide 101 | Namibia (2023)

If there is anything new we have learned this year, it is that suicide is consuming our society. Namibia recorded 623 suicide cases between August 2022 and June 2023. Out of these, 511 cases, or 82 percent, were males, while 92 cases, or 15 percent, were females.

Suicide is a result of many factors, including mental health and lifestyle factors, loneliness, anxiety, alcohol use, and cannabis use, just to name a few. 

In other instances, it is the result of a cycle—first, electorates or voters who believe the false promises of some politicians; second, lazy and incompetent politicians who only do lip service, selfishly abuse public instruments, and undermine the mission to execute quality public service for all Namibians; and finally, the same electorates or voters who become victims of mental illnesses because of poor socio-political decisions made by some politicians.

What's more surprising is that many suicide victims are quirky, funny relatives and friends with smile plastered faces, making other people's days while they are dealing with so much more than anyone else can imagine.

 

As a response to increasing suicidal deaths, the Ministry of Health and Social Services has established a national suicide prevention and treatment action group.

The health minister said that the national action group is developing the second Suicide Prevention and Treatment Strategic Plan 2024–2028 with a clear implementation plan, as well as the Suicide Prevention Community Toolkit.

The tools will provide guidelines on the establishment and strengthening of suicide prevention and treatment programs in all regions across Namibia. These tools will be launched during this financial year.

#GETHELPNOW