Kenya To Launch Its First Suicide Prevention Strategy

The government is set to launch the first suicide prevention strategy today Tuesday 2^nd August. The strategy, which was announced by the ministry of health is seeking to reduce suicide mortality in the country by 10 percent in the next four years.

The launch comes at a time when suicide cases have augmented especially among the youths, fueled by mental illness. According to the ministry of health, mental illness among the youth has been prevalently occasioned by drug abuse and broken social relationships.

“Mental illnesses are often associated with suicidal behavior. Suicidal thoughts associated with depression lifetime prevalence is 7.9pc while for other mental illnesses it is 5-8pc,” says Health CS Mutahi Kagwe.

Police say there has been an increasing trend of suicide in the country with at least two cases reported daily. For instance, over the weekend, 10 suicide cases were reported in separate places across the country.

The first case was reported in Nairobi where a Kayole man 27, allegedly dropped from the fourth floor of his apartment and died on the spot. Joseph Kiguta 38 also died by suicide inside his house in Shauri Moyo. Elsewhere in Kikuyu, Kiambu county, a body of a man whose age was not revealed was found hanging on a tree.

In Sultan Hamud, Makueni county, the body of Philip Mutuku 39 was found hanging on a tree. A similar incident was reported in Nzambani Kitui county where the body of a medical student Brian Kipkoech was found lying lifeless in his room.

In Migori county, the body of Geoffrey Odhiambo was found hanging in his room while in Kakamega, James Lirumbi 55, and Vivian Warire 21, died by suicide inside their houses. The body of 85-year-old Mary Warimu was also found inside her house in Karatina, in a suicide mission. The woman has been said to have been battling mental issues for a long period.

Suicide has been named the leading cause of death between 15 to 29 years globally. According to the International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP), every 40 seconds someone takes their life with over 75 percent reported in low and medium-income countries.

Kenya is ranked among the top 114 countries with the highest suicidal rates.

In 2019, 499 cases of suicide were reported in the country. The number increased in 2020 when 575 cases were reported. Reports indicate that men are more prone to committing suicide than women.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), most suicide cases have been driven by relationship breakups, drug abuse, joblessness, financial difficulties, and depression, among others.

World Suicide Prevention Day Marked every year on September 10 provides the opportunity for people across the country to create awareness and support advocacy for suicide prevention.