Psychiatrists blame hardship for rising suicide attempts

Psychiatrists have warned that the current economic hardship in Nigeria may lead to an increase in suicidal thoughts among citizens, urging Nigerians to visit clinics for mental health check-ups.

According to Metro reports that between August 25 and September 4, 2024, there had been at least five suicide attempts, with four individuals reportedly taking their lives in Ogun and Lagos states.

Recently, Nigerians across many states of the federation staged protests under the banner of ‘#EndBadGovernance’ to voice their frustration over widespread hunger and hardship affecting the population.

While some victims of these suicide incidents did not survive to share the reasons behind their actions, others who were prevented from ending their lives attributed their attempts to their financial struggles.

In Lagos State, a 65-year-old visually impaired man, Ewenla Adetomiwa, was rescued after attempting suicide by jumping into the lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge. He had brought his two children with him, intending to end his life, believing the government would take care of them after his death.

A similar incident occurred on August 30, when an 18-year-old boy named Elijah, believed to be mentally unstable, attempted to jump into the same lagoon.

Likewise, earlier on August 28, a 35-year-old man, Emmanuel Urhobocha, took his own life in his apartment on Alafia Street in Sango-Ota, located in the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

According to Metro also reported that on August 28, a 32-year-old man named Olúwaseun Shorinola took his own life in the Kémta area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

On September 4, a 26-year-old man named Joshua Freeborn ended his life in his apartment at Olapo Family House on Sokoto Road, located in the Atan-Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Responding to these incidents in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, a retired Professor of Psychiatry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Medical Director