Medical experts have blamed the recent increase in the rate of suicides in the country on the current economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
They disclosed that the number of patients receiving treatments in hospitals across the country had been on the increase since Nigeria’s economy went into a recession.
A medical consultant at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Benedicta Oladimeji; and a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Dr. Adeoye Oyewole, said teachings by some clerics in the country about the need for the members of their congregations to be prosperous and rich should also be checkmated in order to prevent frustrated people from resorting to suicide.
Although the medical experts acknowledged that some clerics were in the habit of preaching to the members of their congregation in the churches and mosques on the need to be patient and wait for God’s given time to be prosperous, they maintained that many others still indulged in “heretical teachings.”
On the opinion in some quarters that Nigerians were among the happiest people in the world, they disagreed, saying, “Most Nigerians and Africans at large are not really happy; we are all living masked lives.”
According to Oyewole, some cultures in the country prevent journalists from reporting suicide cases, but the advancement in social media has increased the reportage of such incidents.
He said, “Our culture has a way of masking reports of suicide. The truth is that suicide cases have been with us for a very long time, but the current economic recession that has brought hardship upon so many Nigerians has been responsible for the rising cases of suicide lately.
There is now increased reportage of these cases in Nigeria and that is why it’s now generating reactions and there’s need to checkmate it.
“Nigerians are getting more hopeless, depressed and worthless because of their pitiable economic conditions. Many Nigerians are getting sick and some who could not bear it any longer resort to suicide.”
Calling on the Federal and state governments to ensure prompt payment of salaries and other entitlements of workers, Oyewole said, “Salary is a social welfare scheme and many Nigerians, especially artisans and traders, depend on salary earners for survival.
“Anomy suicide is what is now being experienced in Nigeria. It’s a situation where people commit suicide due to economic upheavals. People can no longer drive their choices of cars; people that drove before have parked their cars and now trek and take okada. The Federal and state governments need to take it seriously. Salary is a social welfare. Nigerian governments don’t know the importance of paying salaries to the common man. There is pressure everywhere. People are dislocated.
The number of patients have increased in hospitals. Families have disintegrated; children have been displaced. Most Nigerians now feel they are worthless and that the future is hopeless.”
Corroborating Oyewole’s argument, Oladimeji said increase in suicide rate was not limited to Nigeria, maintaining that the hardship in the country contributed to the rise in such incidents.
The two medical experts advised Nigerians to be watchful and urgently refer anyone appearing frustrated or depressed to medical practitioners for necessary action.
Oladimeji said, “The leader of a family should know when his wife is not happy. Parents should know when their children are depressed.
Religious leaders should how know the minds of their congregation work and see the nexus between mental health and religion.
They should see mental health experts in case anyone shows signs of frustration or contemplates suicide.”
