The Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to look into the economic hardship in the country and create more jobs and a better work environment to curb the spate of suicides claiming the lives of promising Nigerians.
Rotary president, Agwu Ijeoma Joyce, who made the call yesterday at an event to mark the World Suicide Prevention Day Awareness Campaign organised by the club at the Jabi Lake Park in Abuja, said when somebody is occupied, they may not have that chance or time to contemplate suicide, and advised that for the aged who are retired, the government should engage them in their lines of work to help them survive.
“There are people who are retiring from government, unfortunately, they do not have anything to fall back on. But before retirement, the government establishment should do something to help that person know that there is a fallback at the end of the day.
“Suicide is increasing by the day, and we are bringing this awareness because we need to inform people that people sit back and they are going through a lot, but for the fact that they are not able to speak out, it gets worse. And that is why we are embarking on this awareness.
“Also, so that people are not stigmatised or judged, so that we can lend a hand and listening ear. We can touch and impact the lives of people around us, our family members, society and colleagues in the office, in churches and mosques. Suicide is not peculiar to a particular sect or section of the country, it is all over,” she said.
Joyce who is also the president of presidents in the Rotary Club said most of the known causes of suicide attempts are economic hardship, trauma and mental health issues.
A therapist, Dr Hasiya Adamu-Biu, said the United Nations through statistical data had said clearly that one in every five individuals from age five is suicidal.
We say from age five because that is why you come to the pure consciousness of yourself. But I will say again, that suicide is not about not wanting to die. It is about not wanting to live because there is a cause why I do not want to live, not that I want to die. And that is why we are trying to prevent these acts. If you can stop it, nip it in the bud, then the person will not go ahead to commit suicide,” she said.
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