The news seems to have adapted to stories of individuals taking their own lives as reports of suicide and suicide attempts have regularly made headlines across the news outlets.


Rate Of Suicide In Nigeria
Last week alone a resident of Lagos State, who had been a housemaid, was seen and rescued in a suicide attempt at the popular bridge in the City. Also, there was the story of another, a civil servant in Oyo State who, after also attempting suicide, explained her reasons for seeking to take her life.

While the former housemaid had lamented her ordeal in getting sacked by her boss without pay, she also said that she was fed up with her life and had thought suicide a better recourse.

The civil servant had explained that her attempt was due to the hardship that she was encountering due to the unpaid salaries which civil servants in the state were being owed.

It was also gathered that there had been other civil servants in the state who had taken ill and even died as a result of the financial hardships that were being experienced due to the unpaid salaries.

In June this year, the Senate raised an alarm over the rate of suicide in the country.

During the meeting, the upper chamber of the Senate asked the country's Ministry of Health, both at federal and state levels to embark on a sensitization campaign in order to tackle the societal malady.

Among the objectives of the campaign is the establishment of free mental health stations across government-owned hospitals in the country, both at federal and state levels.

The case is that while the symptoms of many illnesses can be readily observed through their visible effects, the conditions that result to such acts as suicide are usually unperceived, hence the need to promote the awareness of mental health among Nigerians in order to stop the rise of suicide among the Nigerian populace.

The Senate urged Nigerians to be more sensitive to signs of unhappiness, depression, and to seek professional help where necessary.

The unanimously adopted resolutions that were reached at the sitting followed a motion by Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the Need to ensure the provision of accessible and affordable mental health for the Nigerian populace.

While many treat depression as a simple occurrence which can be dealt with simply, medical experts agree that depression is an actual illness for which medical attention ought to be sought.

Nigeria, in the 2015 world happiness report, has been ranked 78th happiest nation in the world, and the 4th in Africa.

Also, reports published in March 2017 rated Nigeria as the 95th happiest nation in out of 155 countries listed.

Whether it is triggered by financial reasons, or due to personal convictions, the rise of suicide among any people is a sign that happiness is becoming harder to obtain by many.

The ones who attempt it are seen and mourned by loved ones, and by the nations as well, but what is to be done about those who continue to nurse unhappiness and depression, struggling through each day?

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