10 Sep 2013

The Ministry of Health yesterday joined the rest the rest of the world to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD).

A press release from the ministry said the main objective of the day was to provide commitment and actions to prevent suicides. The day was commemorated under the theme: Stigma, a Major Barrier to Suicide Prevention.

The release said suicide was a concern in Botswana and because it was a mental health problem, the ministry took a stand on the matter to sensitise the public on the causes of suicide and how to prevent it.

According to the World Health Organisation, suicide was a major public health problem in high-income countries and was an emerging problem in low- and middle-income countries.

The release said suicide was one of the leading causes of death in the world, especially among young people with nearly one million people worldwide losing their lives to suicide each year. “This corresponds to one death by suicide every 40 seconds.

The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeded the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined,” the release stated. The release further said candle lighting and prayers were held at the Ministry of Health foyer at 7 a.m. to remember lives lost through suicide. Ends