African continent has the highest male suicide rates in the world — Expert

.. Nigerian men three times likely to die by suicide

Coordinator of the Nigerian Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, Professor Taiwo Sheikh, stated that the African continent has the highest rates of male suicide worldwide, with Nigerian males being three times more likely to die by suicide than females, despite global suicide rates having declined in recent decades.

Sheikh, a professor of psychiatry at Ahmadu Bello University, stated that suicide is primarily a youth problem, and Nigeria is located in a region of the world with the highest rates of youth suicide.

He stated that 77 per cent of youth suicides—that is, suicides among individuals aged 15 to 29 worldwide—occur in low- and middle-income countries.

According to him, “Suicide poses a significant threat to the survival of our young people. The African continent has the highest male suicide rates in the world. In Nigeria, the male suicide rate is three times higher than the female suicide rate.”

“The female suicide rate in Nigeria averages 5 per 100,000 population. The male suicide rate is higher, at approximately 12 per 100,000 population. The youth suicide rate in Nigeria is about 15 per 100,000 population, which aligns with the African average.

“Suicide is a serious threat to young people; it poses a danger to men within our society and affects our workforce in terms of productivity. It also threatens our future, as this group of young people represents the future of Nigeria. Therefore, Nigeria cannot treat suicide lightly. We must all come together to prioritize suicide prevention in the country.”

Professor Sheikh stated that there is a rising trend of suicide in Nigeria, with 90 per cent of completed suicides attributed to mental health challenges; there are treatment gaps for severe mental health conditions, compounded by worsening economic, social, and psychological issues such as unemployment, marital problems, power outages, banditry, kidnapping, and poor purchasing power.

He added, “When one person is kidnapped, at least ten family members are affected by that kidnapping. So these are some of the factors contributing to the rising trend of suicide in Nigeria.”

The don, however, declared that suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility and requires a whole-society, community-based, and person-centred approach.

He added, “For every suicide that occurs, there are 20 other people who attempt but fail. For every suicide, a minimum of six family members are at risk of taking their own lives as well. So, everyone has a role to play within these three layers.”

Professor Sheikh called for the repeal of the Lunacy Act, stating that it has contributed to an increase in suicide cases by preventing individuals experiencing suicidality from seeking help. He explained that if a suicide attempt fails, the person may be jailed, and those who try to assist such individuals can face up to a month of imprisonment.