The maiden National Conference on Suicide Prevention will commence
on Saturday at the Lagos State University, Lagos.
This was disclosed by the National Coordinator of Suicide Research and
Prevention Initiative, Nigeria (SURPIN)
Dr Raphael Ogbolu, in an interview with newsmen at the weekend.
He said the maiden conference will deliberate on effort to reduce
increasing incidence of suicide in Nigeria.
He noted that the issue of suicide in the country is assuming an
increasing, worrisome dimension, adding that the youths, who are
suppose to be the future of the country are taking their lives as a
result of depression.
Ogbolu who is also Consultant Psychiatrist, Lagos State University
Teaching Hospital disclosed that the National Conference on suicide
prevention will partner with other NGOs, as well as Sen. Ibrahim
Oloriegbe, who represents Kwara Central Senatorial District.
He observed that though suicide is not alien in the country, it has
however assume alarming proportion, adding that the resilience of the
present generations have dropped significantly.
“A rise in suicide is seen because a lot of people are facing mental
health depression which is a global problem.
“Depression is the largest contributor to suicide in Nigeria according
to world Health Organisation, who have been monitoring the trends for
past seven years.
“There is also breakdown of the traditional family system in Nigeria,
as people are getting more westernized and doing away with social
interaction and social support, ” he said.
The SURPIN National Coordinator pointed out that Nigeria requires a
suicide prevention strategy to meet the WHO target of reducing global
suicide by 10 percent by 2020.
“Although majority of suicides are preventable, Nigeria does not have
a comprehensive, structured and extensively collaborative National
Suicide Prevention Strategy till date.
“Targeted suicide prevention programmes can contribute significantly
to reduction of suicides.
“There is an urgent need for a National Centre for Data Collation on
suicides to enable us formulate and develop a robust strategy to
tackle this condition,” he said.
He explained that this fits into the objective of the National Health
Policy of Nigeria: “to reduce the burden of mental illnesses and
promote the maintenance of sound mental health of Nigerians in
general”.
Ogbolu further explained that the Lagos University Teaching Hospital
established the Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative, ‘SURPIN’
in March 2017.
He said SURPIN is presently the only comprehensive, structured and
extensively collaborative suicide prevention initiative with a unique
approach in the public domain, innovative not just in Nigeria but also
in West African.
The Psychiatrist said it has reached and saved over 100 lives through
the effective use of hotlines and facility within the first two years
with branches across Nigeria.
