790 die by suicide in 19 months

Between January 2021 and July this year, 790 people died by suicide in Namibia.A staggering 649 were men. In addition, 102 were adult women, and the remaining 39 were younger than 18.This is according to the deputy health minister, Utjiua Muinjangue, who officiated the official commemoration of World Suicide Prevention and World Mental Health Day, held in Outapi in the Omusati Region last week.Alarming trendThe deputy minister said that suicide attempts for the period of March 2021 to April 2022, from this specific region, amounted to 179. All of the suicide attempts were by young women.In 2020, 138 suicide attempts were reported."These are alarming numbers, and I would like to encourage all of us here today to be that hope in the circles we move in, and encourage ourselves, family members, friends, and colleagues at work to seek professional help. I believe that when we as a community stand together to create that hope, we can certainly prevent suicide. "People should not be ashamed to talk about how they feel," she said.Prevention and treatment are keyAccording to her, it is the health ministry’s urgent priority to finalise the 2022-2027 National Strategic Plan on Suicide Prevention and Treatment before the end of the current financial year and to commence with its implementation.She added that the implementation of the strategic action is defined by key strategic areas, namely: prevention, treatment, legal framework, talent management, as well as monitoring and evaluation."Suicide prevention and mental health promotion amongst adolescents and young people is imperative given the limited mental health services available to this age group. Additionally, early detection and intervention prevent mental health conditions that extend to adulthood, enhancing young people’s chances of leading fulfilling lives as adults," said Muinjangue.jemima@namibiansun.comIf you are feeling hopeless, contact Lifeline/ChildLine&#039;s toll-free numbers 116 and 106, where someone is available 24/7 to assist.

790 die by suicide in 19 months

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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790 die by suicide in 19 months

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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