Raphael Mweninguwe
In Malawi, more and more people kill themselves. Most of them are men. Family problems and economic hardship are among the reasons.
The police in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe has recorded 128 cases of suicide between September 2018 and June 2019. Moreover, there were five cases of attempted suicide. Out of the 133 people who killed themselves or tried to do that, only five were women.
“Men are more likely to kill themselves because of our culture,” explains ChawezaBandawe, a psychologist at the College of Medicine in Blantyre. Women can express their emotions, including grief and anger, openly, he says – but men cannot.
According to Franklin Kilembe, who runs a private clinic in Lilongwe where he counsels people with mental-health problems, men mostly commit suicide because of economic hardship. “In our cultural setup, a man is supposed to be the breadwinner of the family.
When the man loses his job, his economic lifeline is cut, and he becomes depressed. As a result, he thinks of hanging himself,” says Kilembe. Because of Malawi’s bad economy, more companies are expected to lay off workers, which probably means more suicides, he warns.
Job problems are not the only reason for someone wanting to end his life, of course. Kilembe also mentions family problems, for instance if a spouse is unfaithful. He calls for better care for people who suffer from depression in order to avoid suicides.
Mzimba district in the northern region of Malawi has one of the highest suicide rates. Chief InkosiyaMakosiM’mbelwa V blames the rise on increasing gender-based violence, among other reasons. He says domestic violence affects men and women alike.
However: “Men suffer in silence and do not want to complain,” he says. Suicide might then seem the only solution. Malawi’s Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare concedes that despite all the efforts by the government and other stakeholders to fight gender-based violence, no progress has been achieved so far.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that close to 800,000 people commit suicide every year. That is one person every 40 seconds. It further notes that there are indications that for each adult who dies by suicide, there may be more than 20 others attempting suicide.
According to the WHO, “effective and evidence-based interventions can be implemented at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.” Such interventions are urgently needed in Malawi.
--Development & Cooperation
Do not make expressions casting dout on election: EC
14 Apr, 2022CM Bhatta says may New Year 2079 BS inspire positive thinking
14 Apr, 2022Three new cases, 44 recoveries in 24 hours
14 Apr, 2022689 climbers of 84 teams so far acquire permits for climbing various peaks this spring season
14 Apr, 2022How the rising cost of living crisis is impacting Nepal
14 Apr, 2022US military confirms an interstellar meteor collided with Earth
14 Apr, 2022Valneva Covid vaccine approved for use in UK
14 Apr, 2022Chair Prachanda highlights need of unity among Maoist, Communist forces
14 Apr, 2022Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt: Bollywood toasts star couple on wedding
14 Apr, 2022President Bhandari confers decorations (Photo Feature)
14 Apr, 2022