EDITORIAL: The silent crisis we must confront

Namibia is hurting. The quiet plague of suicide has carved deep wounds into our society, and recent days have only underscored its merciless reach.Just this weekend, the cold Atlantic claimed another soul – a man who, seemingly overwhelmed by despair, wandered along the shores before allegedly throwing himself into the angry waves at Swakopmund. On Sunday, a member of our navy reportedly ended his life within the walls of his official residence. In Kambumbu village, far from the headlines and the bustle, a 15-year-old boy took his final breath – another young life extinguished before it truly began.These are not isolated tragedies. They are echoes of a long-standing national crisis. Police statistics confirm what we already feel in our bones: Namibia bears one of the highest suicide rates in Africa.The victims are often young adults and middle-aged men – people at the crossroads of hope and hardship. Socio-economic pressures weigh heavily: unemployment, poverty, broken dreams. Add to this the numbing grip of alcohol and the chaos of drug abuse, and the picture becomes more devastating.This is not just a government problem. It is a human problem. But government must act. It must ensure the gears of society turn for everyone, not just the fortunate few. Jobs must be created. Social safety nets must be strengthened. The despair that drives people to end their lives must be met with opportunity, dignity and care.In rural Namibia, where the cry for help is often met with silence, the scarcity of mental health professionals is particularly deadly. It is in these forgotten corners that suicide festers, far from the eyes of policymakers.

EDITORIAL: The silent crisis we must confront

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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EDITORIAL: The silent crisis we must confront

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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