Gossip, heartbreak and stigma fuel rise in Oshana suicides

Fear of gossip, relationship breakdowns and community judgement continue to drive suicide cases in the Oshana region, prompting calls for compassion and open dialogue around mental health.Speaking during a suicide prevention and mental health awareness campaign at Ongwediva over the weekend, Oshana police regional commander Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria emphasised that no challenge in life is worth ending one’s life over.The event was held under the theme ‘Changing the Narrative’.Sakaria urged individuals to walk away from painful relationships rather than end their lives when relationships break down.“If the person doesn’t want you anymore, move on with your life. Why do you have to kill yourself? Let the person go and continue again with the next person," Sakaria said. "Killing yourself will not solve the problem."He also cautioned men against lashing out in anger or ending their own lives over paternity disputes.“If a woman tells me I’m not the father of her child, I will just walk away and stop providing support instead of killing someone’s daughter. That will not be the end of the world; life will continue," he said."We must stop this nonsense of killing each other and let people make their own choices,” Sakaria said. He added that it would require a mind shift for this to happen.Heavy toll Chief social worker at the health and social services ministry, Victoria Hauwanga, described the mental health and suicide situation in Oshana as alarming, with 16 suicides and 49 attempted suicides recorded between July and September.Hauwanga reminded individuals that problems are just temporary, noting that suicide is not the answer, and urged those in distress to reach out for help.“Death is not the solution to your problems. Learn to seek help and open up to someone you trust,” she said.Create safe spacesHauwanga said that the fear of gossip and judgement often prevents people from speaking up or seeking help, even when they desperately need it.“We need to build communities where people feel safe to talk about what they are going through,” she urged.Omusati police regional commander Commissioner Ismael Basson said suicide remains prevalent among members of the uniformed forces due to easy access to weapons. He encouraged officers to seek therapy and counselling when facing difficulties.“Life challenges are temporary, and help is available. We must stop suffering in silence,” he said.Statistics from the health ministry show that 542 Namibians died by suicide between January 2023 and December 2024, placing Namibia at the top of Africa's suicide rankings. Between January and August this year, another 112 suicide deaths were recorded nationwide.Survivor urges understanding, support At the Ongwediva event, suicide survivor Maria Shivute (27) shared her story of recovery after attempting to take her own life following job loss and debt.“I felt like my life had no meaning. The whispers and gossip made things worse. Instead of helping, people judged me,” Shivute said.After receiving counselling from the Oshana mental health specialists, Shivute recovered and now volunteers as a peer supporter for others facing similar struggles.“Speaking up saved me," she said, "but understanding and kindness can heal,” she added. Shivute urged Namibians to listen without judgement, offer emotional support and treat mental health as a collective responsibility.

Gossip, heartbreak and stigma fuel rise in Oshana suicides

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-08

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Gossip, heartbreak and stigma fuel rise in Oshana suicides

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-08

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