Lagos raises alarm over increasing rate of suicide

As the world yesterday marked this year’s World Health
Day with the theme: “Let’s Talk Depression”, the Lagos
State Government has raised the alarm over increasing
rate of suicide in the state, lamenting that the current
recession has made the situation to be worse.
To this end, there are plans to commence treatment of
depression and other mental disorders in the state’s 57
flagship Primary Healthcare Centres, PHCs. Addressing
a press conference to mark the 2017 World Health Day,
the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris also
disclosed that the State has opened two helplines;
08058820777 and 09030000741 through which the
residents can ask questions and seek help from experts
for early intervention.
Idris who noted that mental health, particularly
depression has become a public health concern and a
major cause of suicide said statistics released by the
World Health Organisation, WHO, showed that 300
million people are now living with depression, an
increase of more than 18 per cent between 2005 and
2015.
According to him, “Depression is characterised by
sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or
low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of
tiredness, and poor concentration.
Similarly, depression is a leading cause of disability
worldwide and a major contributor to overall burden of
disease. “Depression can impair an individual’s ability to
function at work or school or cope with daily life. In its
most severe form, depression can lead to suicide.”
Idris said that depression can be prevented or managed.
He said the current situation calls for a change in the
attitudes that perpetuate stigma and discrimination that
have isolated people in the past.
“The cases of suicide in the state have further
substantiated that mental health deserves much higher
strategic priority and it is a signal with an articulate and
unified voice behind it.” he added.
On his part, a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Prof. Abiodun
Adewuya said: “Per week in Lagos State University
Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, we have nothing less than 2
to 3 mentally ill destitute that are picked from the
streets, treated free. “For suicides, the rate seem to be
high and there is focus on it now and the methodology is
bizarre,” he added.