Eyewitness  News
  • Home
Saturday, August 13, 2022
  • Login
  • Home
  • Diplomacy
  • ECONOMY
  • Agriculture
  • Faith
  • Security
  • Tourism
  • International
  • Latest News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Diplomacy
  • ECONOMY
  • Agriculture
  • Faith
  • Security
  • Tourism
  • International
  • Latest News
No Result
View All Result
Eyewitness  News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Diplomacy
  • ECONOMY
  • Agriculture
  • Faith
  • Security
  • Tourism
  • International
  • Latest News
Home Opinion

How to counter Suicide Rates during the festive season

Admin by Admin
January 1, 2020
in Opinion
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

How to counter Suicide Rates during the festive season

Opinion by Odoki Jimmy


A few days from now we will enter the new year. It caught my attention that, during this period of festivities, there are many stories in the Daily Monitor about ongoing incidents of suicide. Some recent headlines include: Pastor Kayanja’s police bodyguard commits suicide, PC Ben Langoya serving in Ntungamo district shoots himself over unknown reasons; Man strangles girlfriend, kills self over suspected HIV; UPDF officer’s son drowns in River Nile in suspected case of suicide from recovered notes. These unfortunate incidents reinforce the urgency of the theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day (observed on 10th October): Suicide Prevention.


According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Every 40 seconds someone loses their life to suicide. In response, WHO launched an awareness campaign called “40 seconds of action to raise awareness about the scale of suicide around the world and what role we can play to prevent it.” Dr. Devora Kestel, the Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO, reports that almost 800,000 lives are lost to suicide every year, leading the organization to give high priority to suicide prevention. Suicide is the leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds worldwide. Suicide can be prevented and avoided. Contrary to popular belief that suicide and mental health issues are only of concern in Western/ High Income countries, we regularly face the issues in Uganda and its impact in other lower income countries as well. It has lasting effects on communities as well as families.

When someone dies by suicide, it is tragic to both the person whose life is lost as well as their family and community.

Communities play critical roles in suicide prevention. They provide social support to the most vulnerable individuals. In helping to prevent suicide, stigma has to be handled carefully. People who have attempted to die by suicide have to be treated well and not punished as some sections of the penal code show. For every death by suicide there are 20 more attempts. The punishments and stigma associated with victims of suicide attempts most likely will lead people with suicidal ideation/ thoughts to delay or avoid seeking help and possibly accomplish their mission. The kind of reporting in the media about suicide should not have sensational language and details about the act of suicide should not be disclosed. This is to prevent others with suicidal thoughts from acting with those details in mind.


Communication, especially with members of our communities going through a difficult or tough time, helps in suicide prevention. Sometimes we think suicide does not happen to our families or relatives but ignoring this subject could produce a situation where it becomes too late to help a close relation in need. We need to show care and concern to people around us. When we notice a change of behavior of relatives and friend, showing signs of persistent unhappiness which could be bordering on depression, then there is a need to have a friendly chat to find out what is going on. If someone starts drinking heavily and perhaps abusing drugs then there is need to help before something worse happens. Alcoholism and drug abuse in some instances lead to suicide. In the cases of suicide among police officers and military personnel, investigations often reveal relationship issues and financial matters as some of the causes. The proposal by government to have Police officers undergo regular mental checks is a good gesture in helping curb the high rate of suicide in the Forces.


People who need our help should not be branded attention seekers. We should stop shaming them but instead embrace and uplift them for having the courage to reach out to get the much-needed support to stay alive. 1 in 4 people worldwide will live with a mental health condition at some point in their lives. Depending on what kind of mental illness a person has, if it is not well treated it can lead to suicide.


Suicide affects us all. Let us listen, talk and show empathy to persons who show suicidal tendencies. Give hope to people to have lost hope completely. Communication and sometimes confidentiality where necessary should be observed.


Odoki Jimmy is a Mental Health Advocate Coordinator of Heartsounds Uganda/Gulu (Mental Health Advocacy organization)

Previous Post

Gov’t Spends 98BN SHS Annually in Rent –Minister

Next Post

The Failure by Agencies to Show up in Committees is a Challenge – Speaker

Related Posts

Cooperatives, A Shortcut For Attaining The Middle Income Status
Opinion

Cooperatives, A Shortcut For Attaining The Middle Income Status

May 25, 2022
0

Cooperatives, A Shotcut For Attaining The Middle Income Status. Recently Uganda Cooperatives Alliance Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with...

Read more
Parents Please, Stop Whining

Parents Please, Stop Whining

September 19, 2020

The Ham Vs DTB Case should be of Public Concern

October 7, 2020
More people Going Hungry-UN report: time to rethink first and fast

More people Going Hungry-UN report: time to rethink first and fast

July 18, 2020
St.Josephs Cathedral in Gulu Archdiocese Head office . The Archbishops seat is here .The Department for Education under which the schools are located was for a long time headed by Fr .Nsubuga

What is Happening To Catholic Faith Based Schools in Northern Uganda ?

June 16, 2020
Electoral Experts Against The New Road Map

Electoral Experts Against The New Road Map

June 18, 2020
Next Post
Parliament Rejects Destruction of Murchison Falls

The Failure by Agencies to Show up in Committees is a Challenge - Speaker

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
MPs – Reaction to The State of Nation Address

West Nile MPs, Govt Chief Whip Clash Over Electricity in the Region

September 11, 2021
Phaneroo Boss, Sudhir Grilled Over Nakawa Land

Phaneroo Boss, Sudhir Grilled Over Nakawa Land

April 22, 2022
Adjumani East MP  Mamawi-Speaks Out on Charcoal Theft -Claims

Adjumani East MP Mamawi-Speaks Out on Charcoal Theft -Claims

March 16, 2022
Spice Diana Roasted Alive By Fans on Social Media For  Being A Covid -19  Potential Carrier

Spice Diana Roasted Alive By Fans on Social Media For Being A Covid -19 Potential Carrier

March 24, 2020
Budget Advocates Concerned With New Wave Of Corruption In Govt.

Budget Advocates Concerned With New Wave Of Corruption In Govt.

1
Musoke Ibrahim a father to Rahim who is now eight years

Being A Good Father Does Not Mean Money But Love & Care

1
URBRA Cautions On NSSF Mid-Term Access 

URBRA Cautions On NSSF Mid-Term Access 

1

Hello world!

0
Government Urged To Find Lasting Solution to Power Outages in West Nile

Government Urged To Find Lasting Solution to Power Outages in West Nile

August 13, 2022
Speaker tasks Justice Minister to handle Constitution Amendment Bill

Speaker tasks Justice Minister to handle Constitution Amendment Bill

August 10, 2022
Speaker Donates Solar Equipment to Arua Hospital

Speaker Donates Solar Equipment to Arua Hospital

August 9, 2022
Speaker Among Tips Youth to Seek For Opportunities

Speaker Among Tips Youth to Seek For Opportunities

August 7, 2022

Recent News

Government Urged To Find Lasting Solution to Power Outages in West Nile

Government Urged To Find Lasting Solution to Power Outages in West Nile

August 13, 2022
Speaker tasks Justice Minister to handle Constitution Amendment Bill

Speaker tasks Justice Minister to handle Constitution Amendment Bill

August 10, 2022
Speaker Donates Solar Equipment to Arua Hospital

Speaker Donates Solar Equipment to Arua Hospital

August 9, 2022
Speaker Among Tips Youth to Seek For Opportunities

Speaker Among Tips Youth to Seek For Opportunities

August 7, 2022

Eyewitnessug.com is Licensed by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Under Dominion Media Limited.

Dominion Media Limited is registered by Uganda Revenue Authority.

For Advertisement Reach out to Marketing Department via.
Email: [email protected]

Contact us through our Postal Address.
P.O.BOX 21157 Kampala-Uganda.

Browse by Category

  • Agiriculture
  • Agriculture
  • Business
  • Development
  • Diplomacy
  • ECONOMY
  • Editor's Pick
  • Education
  • Entertainment & Arts
  • Enviroment
  • Faith
  • Feature News
  • Governance
  • Health
  • International
  • Latest News
  • obituary
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Security
  • Social
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Tourism

Recent News

Government Urged To Find Lasting Solution to Power Outages in West Nile

Government Urged To Find Lasting Solution to Power Outages in West Nile

August 13, 2022
Speaker tasks Justice Minister to handle Constitution Amendment Bill

Speaker tasks Justice Minister to handle Constitution Amendment Bill

August 10, 2022
  • Home

© 2021 Allrights Reserved EYEWITNESS NEWS UGANDA

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Diplomacy
  • ECONOMY
  • Agriculture
  • Faith
  • Security
  • Tourism
  • International
  • Latest News

© 2021 Allrights Reserved EYEWITNESS NEWS UGANDA

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
error: Content is protected !!