The Lagos State Government has expressed concern on the growing incidences of suicide attempts and as such has promised to educate members of the public on suicide and common causes with a view to stemming the spate of suicides and suicidal attempts recorded in the State in the past few weeks.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, made this known at a press briefing on mental health to commemorate the year 2017 World Health Day with the theme “Depression: Let’s Talk”.

Idris stated that suicide could be committed by people of all ages and listed its common causes as inability to deal with life stresses such as financial problems, relationship breakup, chronic pain and illness, adding that individuals experiencing conflicts, disaster, violence, abuse or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behaviour.

The Commissioner noted that suicide rates are also high amongst vulnerable groups who experience discrimination such as refugees, migrants and prisoners, just as he said that depression tops the list of common causes of suicides.

According to him, depression is a common mental disorder, characterised by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness and poor concentration.

“Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression which is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease,” he said.

While saying that more women are affected by depression than men, the Commissioner posited that depression can be long-lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing an individual’s ability to function at work or school or cope with daily life and can have devastating consequences for families, friends, communities and workplaces.

He stressed the need for coordination and collaboration amongst various sectors of the society including health, education, labour, justice, law, politics and the media, explaining that people suffering from depression need support to be courageous, come out to talk about it and shun the fear of stigmatisation and discrimination.

He disclosed that the State Government has set up helplines - 08058820777 and 09030000741 - through which residents can ask questions, make inquiries and seek help from professionals early enough to allow for appropriate intervention.
“I must stress that there are people available to help. So, “Let’s Talk” …if you are a student, “Let’s Talk”, if you are a parent, “Let’s Talk”, "If you feel alone in the world, Let’s Talk,” he stated.

Also present at the press briefing were the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Modele Osunkiyesi; Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Dr Atinuke Onayiga; Permanent Secretary, Health Service Commission, Dr Jemilade Longe and Professor Abiodun Adewuya of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) amongst others.

http://politicsngr.com/2017/04/10/lagos-state-government-pledges-stem-suicide-attempts-provides-helplines/

HELPLINES WILL NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION, SUICIDE WILL STILL CONTINUE.

Provide jobs and reduce hardship see suicide missions disappear...

Useless government

The only remedy is for Buhari to resign simple !.
The hardship is becoming unbearable for some Nigerians, even some pathetic gullible zombies that voted for him are not exempted.

.

Keneking:
Provide jobs and reduce hardship see suicide missions disappear...

Useless government

Gbam but they are busy chasing shadows, inept, wicked, heartless and nonsense government, feeding fat while the masses are suffering

But it was never this bad in Nigeria, or was suicide under reported in the past? A lot of questions come to mind. Nigerians are known to be very resilient no matter the challenge. What has changed now? Is it the new media that makes it easier to report these cases?
This suicide thing is a very sad development and it has to be stemmed in the bud by all means though we all know that the recent state of the affairs of our economy has contributed a lot to this recent trend.

and you dey make people homeless by destroying their legal homes because of the rich

Na wao. Na so the thing don reach

Stupid Lagos state government that is even increasing suicide attempts and deaths by chasing people away from their homes and burning down their houses, not minding the fact that women and children live in those houses. Nonsense! All Nigerian politicians are demonic!

Igboesika:
The only remedy is for Buhari to resign simple !.
The hardship is becoming for unbearable for some Nigerians, even some some pathetic gullible zombies that voted for him are not exempted.

It is in our best interests as citizens to help Buhari's government by exposing these corrupt politicians. I give kudos to the whistleblowers. That is what we need...

Forget about helpline, look for the root cause and then something can start there.



Abi is there prize for it,make I jejely go sitdown near mainland bridge .At least one or Two of this flat heads go come do the needful soon

That the change they voted for

I wonder why una dey beg the foolish ones not to kill themselves, na only dem dey depressed for naija ? Everybody wan turn suicide to national anthem

Wat of the logistics

The people that they're trying to prevent from committing suicide, are they willing to help them out of their trouble?
If they can't, then it's best to let them rest in peace biko, since they've chosen that route.

No be after una don rescue them una go carry them dey go court for attempting suicide.

I'm still wondering if there is any sense in making suicide a crime (I didn't say sin o, before all these spirikokos rush me).

All thanks to Bullharry, see lagos wey dey talk after u guys have demolished so many places and left pple helpless una dey launch helpline.

Isn't ds a square peg in a round hole? Provide job and basic amenities + gud security and lets see what will happen afterwards. Too much of talk and less actions from useless govt

Meanwhile, someone shd check on whoever has ds monika, bf its too late

hmm

Suicide is never the answer!!

That means the system and the condition is unbecoming, unbearable and it goes beyond manageable ..let the head of the system send palliative financial measured and see people striving, waxing stronger and with common excitement.. faces.

Can't believe Nigeria is at this point

BAD Effort

Why not tackle the cause of depression but all the same.

Oga no be matter of migrants or discrimination, just improve the standard of living and watch the lagoon jumping competition reduce drastically.

I thought I'd be reading something like,


"All eligible graduates can go to any firm, institution, or company and tell the employers that based on logistics, the state government has ordered you to give me an appointment letter and the take-home pay should be nothing less than six digits, with all benefits attached, and the resumption date should not be later than 11th April, 2017

These ppl are crazy... Can't dey have speed dail numbers dah are 3figures.. Who will cram dah shiit?

Resignation of the redundant nomad is the remedy!...most folks ain't finding the recession funny!

eph123:
Can't believe Nigeria is at this point

Suicide is actually a sign of a country's development. Many of the most developed countries have high suicide rates, at least they did until drugs were created to keep people from killing themselves.