The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a campaign to raise awareness and spur action for suicide prevention in Africa, which according to it, has the world’s highest rates of death by suicide.

According to WHO, around 11 people per 100,000 die by suicide yearly in the African region, a figure higher than the global average of nine per 100,000 people.

A statement by WHO said this is partly due to insufficient action to address and prevent the risk factors, including mental health conditions, which currently affect 116 million people, up from 53 million in 1990.

Consequently, ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10, WHO launched a social media campaign aimed at reaching 10 million people across the region.

It is to raise public awareness and galvanise the support of governments and policymakers to increase focus and funding for mental health programming, including suicide prevention efforts.

Such efforts include equipping health workers to better support those dealing with suicidal thoughts, educating people who may experience these thoughts on where to go for help.

The 2022 World Mental Health Day is being marked under the theme “Make Mental Health and Well-Being for All a Global Priority”.

WHO says the African region is home to six of the 10 countries with the highest suicide rates worldwide.

According to it, the common means of suicide in the region are hanging and pesticide self-poisoning and, to a lesser extent, drowning, use of a firearm, jumping from a height or medication overdose.

Studies show that in Africa for each completed suicide, there are an estimated 20 attempted ones.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said, “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.

“Significant investment must be made to tackle Africa’s growing burden of chronic diseases and non-infectious conditions such as mental disorders that can contribute to suicide.

“Ongoing efforts by countries should be reinforced and broadened to make mental health care a public health priority in the African region,” Ms Moeti said.

Mental health problems account for up to 11 per cent of the risk factors associated with suicide.

In Africa, underinvestment by governments has been identified as the greatest challenge to adequate mental health service provision.

(NAN)