Africa is the region with the highest rate of suicide deaths in the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned today as it launched an awareness campaign to prevent this problem on the continent.
About 11 people per 100,000 die by suicide annually in Africa, above the global average of nine per 100,000 people, WHO said in a statement.
This situation is due in part to insufficient action to address and prevent risk factors, including mental health conditions that currently affect 116 million people, up from the 53 million reported in 1990.
The campaign, launched ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, aims to reach 10 million people to raise public awareness and mobilise support from governments to increase funding for mental health programmes, including suicide prevention efforts.
The initiative aims to enable health professionals to improve support for those facing suicidal thoughts and educate people who may experience these thoughts on where to seek help.
The campaign also aims to raise awareness in society on how to identify and help those in need and how to address the stigma associated with suicide.
The African continent is home to six of the 10 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world.
In Africa the most common methods of suicide are hanging and pesticide autointoxication and to a lesser extent drowning, firearm use, jumping from high places or drug overdose.
Studies show that in Africa, for every suicide consummated, there are 20 attempts, the UN agency detailed.
“Suicide is a major public health problem and every death by suicide is a tragedy. Unfortunately, suicide prevention is rarely a priority in national health programmes,” Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, was quoted in the statement.
“It is important to invest significantly to address the growing burden of chronic diseases and non-infectious conditions in Africa, such as mental disorders, which can contribute to suicide,” Moeti argued.
In Africa, lack of investment by governments is the biggest challenge to the adequate provision of mental health services.
Due to this low investment, the continent has one psychiatrist for every 500,000 inhabitants, a hundred times less than what is recommended by the WHO.
Last August, Africa’s health ministers approved a new strategy to strengthen mental health care and set targets for 2030, including ensuring that all countries have a mental health policy or legislation.
