It is not unusual to hear of suicide by an adult or youth attributed to one cause or the other.
However, the phenomenon is also being witnessed among teenagers.
In this report, Oluwatumininu Balogun examines why some teens commit suicide and how to prevent its prevalence.
According to the World Health Organization 2021 report, more than 700,000 people die due to suicide annually.
In Nigeria, according to statistics by Suicide Research Prevention Initiative, SURPIN, it is recorded that about one-fifth of suicide cases seen at its affiliated institution are those aged between 13-19 years and over 50 per cent of the crisis calls received through its hotlines are from those aged between 13-29 years of which 27.8 per cent were students.
However, why concern has become heightened is the occurrences of suicide by teenagers.
For example, on July 12, 2020, a student of Government Science School, Andaha, near Akwanga, Nasarawa State, ingested a pesticide to kill herself after she got pregnant for a boy she had met during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Similarly, on May 14, 2019, a 17-year-old boy committed suicide in Jos, Plateau State by drinking pesticide over poor performance in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).
Also, earlier this year, a video showing a polytechnic student in Osun State filming herself while attempting to kill herself due to illness and depression went viral.
But for the timely action of social media users, who alerted her roommates and family for prompt intervention.
Radio Nigeria interacted with some teenagers, and they seem quite aware of what triggers suicide among their peers.
“Suicide can be caused through negative peer pressure or having a friend that treats you in a negative way”, Efunsan Omotolani said.
“Suicide can be caused by depression, pressure from friends, family and other things”, Adekoya Precious said.
A clergy, Pastor Mrs Titilope Agbaje and an Imam, Alhaji Adisa AbdulHakeem who said God opposed suicide, highlights causes and what should be done.
Pastor Mrs Agbaje said negative effects of comparison, lack of confidence in one’s self, pride and overrating oneself can also lead to suicide.
Alhaji AbdulHakeem said people should not kill themselves and they should not kill one another, as Allah is most merciful to them”
A psychologist, Dr Oluwafisayo Adebimpe, highlights what prompts suicide among teenagers.
“Most of the teenagers who commit suicide has a dysfunctional family background, some are exposed to violence and abuse of any sort (domestic, sexual abuse etc), through peer pressure”.
Dr Adebimpe said given these circumstances, it is vital that society prioritize mental programmes and that teenagers passing trauma should be urged to visit mental health experts for encouragement, adding that early intervention is made by religious and traditional institutions.
Oluwatumininu Balogun
pub-5160901092443552
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