Tackling suicide

Luxson Chananda
PART of the ZRP mandate is the protection of human life. It is generally known that human life is often wasted through criminal activity, natural means (like illnesses) or non-natural means as in the case of attacks by wild animals, drowning, lightning strikes or some other unforeseen circumstances.
In all these cases, the individual is often an unfortunate victim and an unwilling participant to his demise. It is, however, the self-destruction practice that has gripped the hearts of many people that has become a cause of concern for the police and the general public. Suicide (the wilful act of killing oneself) has occurred in the mind-boggling circumstances that have left many wondering what has gone wrong with our society.

In Manicaland, some cases of suicide have assumed predictable trends during the spun of each year, while others just spring from the blues. Seasonal activities like the cotton/tobacco selling periods have been associated with suicide where people squander all their hard-earned cash and end up killing themselves because they cannot face their spouses. The victims use pesticides or other chemicals that are used in the growing of their cash crops as very often they have them in stock. Places that come to mind are Chisumbanje in Chipinge and some tobacco growing areas around Rusape.

Some causes of suicide emanate from family disputes especially between married couples. In the majority of cases, parties to a marriage fight over issues of infidelity, financial matters or the upkeep of children or other relatives.

As observed in cases of murder, some people do not take accusations of witchcraft lightly which prompts them to take their own lives. On the other hand, people suffering from mental ailments have a tendency of killing themselves especially those who live alone or those who are not under proper care.

However, it is emerging these days that some people commit suicide after testing HIV positive. Despite the counselling process that is done prior to and after the testing, police have recorded cases where the person could no longer withstand the thought of being in this condition and go on to kill themselves.

One yet another scenario is that of people who commit suicide after having committed an offence especially murder where the person did not have an outright intention to kill his victim. It is also sad that, there have been cases where the individual who committed suicide erroneously believed the person he had assaulted had died.

In trying to find solutions to the problems of suicide in society, organisations have tried to establish the motive that drives the unfortunate victims to take their lives. It appears there is a burning desire to end one’s life especially when one looks at the manner by which these people are killing themselves.

Most notable is where people hang themselves either from the roof trusses of their houses or tree branches. Some more difficult situations are those where suicide victims hang themselves in far, hidden and secluded places like forests and mountains only to be discovered after some time in an advanced state of decomposition.

It is also common for victims to take poison, the most popular being rat killer, Rogor and Temaron which are both used in the control of pests. Very often victims die while being taken to hospital and may be actively participating in some first aid to reverse the effects of the poison, a sure sign of regret and restoration of “sanity”.

Some of the ways that send shivers down one’s spine are where the victim sets him/herself ablaze, shoots him/herself (mostly common with people who use or have access to firearms) or even those where the victim throws himself in front of an oncoming vehicle. Remember trains have not been spared.

While it is important to appreciate the role played by other organisations like the Ministry of Health and Child Care who have taken the issue of suicide as a vital mental health issue, it is equally important that the public gets to appreciate it as a shared responsibility and get to know its role in prevention of the cases.

Family disputes should be handled carefully and brought to their final possible conclusion where parties are sure of what they are going to do next. Relatives, friends and other interested people must know that disputes upset the mind’s stability and decisions taken in that state may be disastrous to the individual. The following should also assist in alleviating cases of suicide:

keep an eye on distressed persons and give them emotional support.
harmful substances that can be used in committing suicide must always be kept out of sight. People who may not be harbouring the idea may do so upon sight of the substance.

community leaders like traditional leaders, councillors or school heads must ensure that the issue of suicide is often made subject of discussion during community meetings and other gatherings.

People threatening to commit suicide should not be taken for granted. The fact that they have conceived the idea is a sure sign that they are most likely to execute it. Those with suicidal tendencies should be taken for counselling while those in apparent serious distress may need medical attention. Remember there have been cases where a person not willing to leave his children suffering, first kills the children before killing him/herself.

NB. Report all cases of suicide to the police for investigation. It is an offence under the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act for anyone to assist a person who is committing suicide.

Inserted by: ZRP Manicaland Province Press and Public Relations.