Suicide not an option to tackle life’s challenges

Mental health experts have called on Nigerians, especially the youths, to refrain from suicide as an option for tackling life’s challenges.

The experts made the call during the World Mental Health Day celebration organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Neuroscience at the University of Ibadan.

The celebration tagged ‘Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention’ had in attendance students from 10 secondary schools, including the School of Nursing, and members of the support groups for persons with mental health challenges at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Dr Victor Makanjuola, a Consultant Psychiatrist at the college, urged Nigerians to always embrace whatever they were going through as a challenge that could be tackled without resorting to negative alternatives.

He said “Suicide is on the increase and we have a lot of young people coming to an abrupt end of their lives.

Buhari appoints new six aides for First Lady Aisha

“The message in the global community of mental health is to encourage young people to have hope. They should not truncate their lives prematurely.

“Also, we encourage them not to try the alternatives in making themselves happy.

“Those alternatives or negative alternatives include things like drugs, excessive use of alcohol as well as the use of illicit drugs like cannabis, tramadol and codeine.

“Those are a devil’s alternative to the challenges they are having, and it can only bring more sorrow and more pains by causing more mental health challenges,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Olatunde Ayinde, a Consultant Psychiatrist at the University College Hospital in Ibadan, said people who attempt suicide are people who are in distress, and when identified, they should be referred for treatment.

He added: “People who have emotional and social problems are people who can’t help themselves.

“You know, the whole thing is in the brain. People have a lot of side pain, pain in the brain, a lot of social issues, a lot of pressures that they can’t deal with. So, what they need is help; a lot of help and a lot of attention.”