Medical doctors are professionals with the highest suicide rate —Expert

Contrary to what many people may think, a medical expert, Dr Victor Makanjuola has said that medical doctors where professionals with the highest suicide rate in the world.

Dr Makanjuola, a consultant psychiatrist, spoke at the 2017 World Family Doctors day by the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON), Ibadan zone, with the theme “Curbing depression”

The psychiatrist, who linked over 90 per cent of suicide cases to depression, said studies have shown a two to three fold increase in cases of suicides in physicians compared to the general public.

According to him, “we know that they are twice more likely to succeed at a suicide attempt than the general population, the reason been that they are more aware of the lethal ways of ending life.

“If a doctor is going to take a drug overdose, he knows the amount that will make sure he ends his life. He does not make any mistake unlike a lay person.”

He lamented rapidly increasing cases of suicide among adolescents and young adults that are depressed as a result of overwhelming challenges of life, including unemployment and increasing societal demand to be successive.

In addition, he stated that divorce, negative events of life like the loss of a loved one, alcohol use, some drugs and medical problems like cancer and diabetes can also predispose to depression.

The psychiatrist, who listed symptoms of depression to include loss of interest in things one like to do and sadness or irritability, said if an individual is very intelligent, such could hide the symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts.

He, however, said that depression is rife in the society, declaring, “five to 10 per cent of every population suffer from depression and it is projected that it will be the most common disease in the world by 2020.”

Dr Makanjuola declared that many depressed people end up attempting suicide because they had lost hope, adding “if we can prevent people from getting depressed by several means, we will also be reducing the number of people getting to the point of suicidal ideation and making an attempt on their lives.

“Depression is treatable; it is not a condition one does not have to endure for long. Treatment is effective and so it is imperative that family physicians identify and treat depression as promptly as possible,”he declared.

President, SOFPON, Dr Akin Moses, speaking though Dr Olufemi Olowookere, stated that between 2005 and 2015, number of people with depression had increased by 18.4 per cent, adding that in Nigeria there were approximately 10 suicide deaths per 100,000 populations.