LAST Saturday on September 12, a dark cloud hung over the arts industry as the shocking news of Chiedza Brown was announced.
This was two days after the world commemorated World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) on September 10.
Chiedza aged 15 was the daughter of the late, music legends Chiwoniso Maraire and Andy Brown.
She is believed to have committed suicide in Texas United States where she was living with an aunt.
Her sister Chengeto Brown posted on social media; “Chiedza was a loving daughter, sister, cousin and friend.
“She was a remarkable girl who touched the lives of everyone who met her.”
Questions are doing rounds in the minds of friends, relatives and fans on what could have triggered such a lively, young, beautiful young girl to give up on life.
Chiedza is one of the many people who are giving up on life every day.
Experts define suicide as an advanced state of depression which has not been managed well with the support of loved ones or medically.
Others may try to commit suicide and fail which is defined as ‘para suicide’.
Both suicide and para suicide is a bad response to crisis which the person thinks cannot be overcome.
Depression is classified as a common mental disorder and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental disorders are thought to be as common as in one in every four people.
Clinical Psychologist Arnold Mutemeri said given the WHO statistics, this means that there is a high rate of depression in Zimbabwe since the statistics are a global reflection.
“Therefore this means that there is a high number of people who if left untreated and supported may end up resorting to suicide,” Mutemeri said.
“Some people who want to commit suicide at times talk about it and it is up to the people around them to adequately support, counsel and show them love,”
Mutemeri also added that suicide attempts are more common in women than men, especially in African societies where most men are the breadwinners.
“Depression and suicide are normally associated with economic challenges, family and social problems which may include the departure of a loved one and divorce,” said Mutemeri.
According to recently released WHO statistics, over 800 000 people die by suicide across the world each year.
The report notes that this estimate is conservative, with the real figure likely to be higher because of the stigma associated with suicide, lack of reliable death recording procedures, and religious or legal sanctions against suicide in some countries.
It is against this background that this year’s WSPD theme was ‘Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives.
It serves as a call to action to individuals and organisations to prevent suicide by offering support to those prone to suicide.
While it is difficult to know the extreme psychological pain that leads someone to decide that suicide is the only course of action, reaching out to someone who is struggling can make a difference.
World Suicide Prevention Day is an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the WHO, a co-sponsor of meetings and events related to WSPD.
Since 2003, WSPD has taken place on September 10 each year.
The act of showing care and concern to someone who may be vulnerable to suicide can be a game-changer.
Asking them whether they are fine, listening to what they have to say in a non-judgmental way, and letting them know you care, can have a significant impact.
Isolation increases the risk of suicide and conversely, having strong social connections is protective against it, so being there for someone who has become disconnected can be life-saving.
Although the support of friends and relatives is crucial for people who may be at risk of suicide and for people who have lost someone to suicide, it is not always enough.
Often more formal help is needed.
Such help can take many forms, and is likely to vary from country to country.
In high-income countries, it may include specialist mental health services and primary care providers, both of which offer clinical care.
It may also include a range of community organisations which provide non-clinical support, as well as support groups and self-help groups.
In low- and middle-income countries, the more clinically-focused services are less readily available, and there is a heavier reliance on community organisations.
Part of reaching out to vulnerable individuals can involve helping to link them to relevant services.
There is strength in numbers it is said.
Around the globe, many individuals and organisations are involved in efforts to prevent suicide.
People learn from each other, and strengthen the evidence base for effective interventions.
Reaching out to those who are travelling the same road increases the likelihood and collective efforts reduce the numbers of people who die by suicide. – Source – suicideprevention.com