Mental health causing suicide spike-Police

Malawi: Suicide rates in Malawi have risen dramatically this year, with police blaming it on mental health issues, relationship problems, financial difficulties, and trauma.

This revelation comes as police have reported 208 suicide cases from January to August 2022, with 168 males and 40 females, indicating an increase from the same period last year, when they reported 160 suicide cases.

According to Deputy National Police spokesperson Inspector Harry Namwaza, the main factors fueling suicide are mental health and debts, as many people commit suicide when they are unable to repay their debts, and others commit suicide because they are going through a difficult time.

He stated that this is not only concerning, but also necessitates immediate action by the government and relevant stakeholders.

"We believe that if relevant stakeholders and well-wishers collaborate with the police, Malawi can begin to see a decrease in suicide cases," he said.

"We are already sensitising the masses that suicide is not a solution, but dialogue if they are troubled.”

Dr Patience Chimwaza, the occupational therapist at Umodzi Medical Rehabilitation Centre, emphasised the importance of raising awareness about the need to promote measures to reduce suicide and suicide attempts.

"We cannot talk about suicide without talking about depression, which is one of the most prevalent mental health issues in Malawi. People become stressed from economic or social factors, which results in mental health because they don't know how to cope," he said.

According to the World Health Organization, 800,000 people die by suicide each year, which equates to one death every 40 seconds worldwide.