Suicide a cause for concern
By Letwin Mazarura
Suicide cases are worryingly on the increase since the beginning Coronavirus pandemic.
This health crisis has been as hard on children as it has been on adults.
Scientists believe the Coronavirus has been accompanied by psychological suffering, fear, distress, anxiety, depression and other psychiatric disorders, including extreme suicidal thoughts among various people of different age groups with young adults comprising the largest group.
Learners have since the beginning of the coronavirus-induced lockdowns been forced to go on long holidays as the country battled to contain rising death rates and infections.
While the move has largely been successful, it has, however, come with unintended consequences.
Usage of drugs such as cocaine, crystal meth (guka/mutoriro), among others, are understood to be worsening the situation according to authorities.
“We are worried about the surge in suicide cases of minors,” said police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
In most cases involving the minors, most suicides are reportedly being committed after the minor would have been reprimanded by their parents or guardians.
A nine-year-old grade three learner at Queensdale Primary School recently hanged himself after being chided by his mother for beating up his sibling.
This came a few days after a 14-year-old Townsend Girls High School student took her own life after her mother insisted she could only watch television after completing her homework.
Globally, suicide among children is at an alarming rate making it the second leading cause of death among young adults since 2007.
However, experts conclude the latest cases of minors committing suicide are being fueled by Covid-19-induced lockdowns.
An article produced in December last year in a newspaper in the United States noted a 67 percent increase in teen suicides in 2020 compared to 2019 before the pandemic.
In India, one of the worst-hit countries by the coronavirus, it is reported that a student dies by suicide every hour since the beginning of Covid-19 lockdowns.
The new trend has prompted the Ministry of Health and Child Care to come up with initiatives that include conferences, educational seminars and public lectures to combat such sad situations.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Mr. Donald Mujiri, said training courses on suicide and depression awareness will be integrated into curricula at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
This initiative will be done in collaboration with relevant ministries for this cause.
“Child psychiatric hospitals in every province were passed as a recommendation by 31st Cabinet sitting (September 14, 2021) — yet another submission which was made by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in its mission to reduce the suicide rate. Also, a national mental health call center to act as a suicide hotline is also being established,” he said.
Current referral centers for suicide management and crisis counselling are Parirenyatwa Annex psychiatric unit, Sally Mugabe psychiatric unit, Ingutsheni Psychiatric Hospital and Ngomahuru Hospital.
Dr John Ringson, a psychologist believes lockdowns have caused over-involvement by parents in children’s affairs.
“If the teenagers do not get closure, they may end up committing suicide, feeling it is the only way out,” he warned.
“Culturally, in African society, teenagers are not given freedom to do as they please and that leaves most of the minors emotionally struggling in silence.”
“Minors also need to be monitored in their activities on the internet because this is where they get most of these ideas,” said health professional Dr Ebison Chinherende.
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