Suicide has in this era become a major public health threat, with more than 700 000 deaths each year globally, a situation which has prompted governments, individuals and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to embark on several investments and awareness initiatives towards suppressing the challenge.
These stressful statistics have seen nations around the globe through the World Health Organization adopting the three-year fight against suicides under the triennal theme “Changing the narrative on suicide”
The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day for 2024-2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to action “Start the Conversation”. This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides. Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming how people perceive this complex issue and shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding and support.
The Zimbabwe-based youth movement Reach Out Foundation (ROF) has launched a suicide prevention programme which targets young people through open conversations, sporting events, school clubs and life coaching sessions among others.
In an interview with ZimGospel Masters magazine on World Suicide Prevention Day which was observed on 10 September, ROF Visionary Dumisani Hamandishe expressed that their approach has been vibrant in helping youths dealing with low self-esteem, anxiety, unemployment and societal pressures among other challenges that have been fueling suicides.
“Suicide is really there and dangerous to our communities. We know that the future of this world is in our young people but it is worrisome that some of them are committing suicide due to lack of assistance especially during those times when they are faced with serious emotional and mental disorders.
“As ROF we have embraced this year’s theme of WSPD by creating more platforms for youths to engage in conversations that are of their interests and that also help them to freely express themselves. Not only that but we have already began launching youth clubs in schools that help youths identify their gifts and talents so that even though some of them they are not good in school they can focus on other areas that can even lead them to be successful in life. We are doing all this to promote inclusion and youth networking which is key to deal with distress among other factors that cause suicide.
“Through these clubs and other sessions we also raise awareness about the dangers of drug and substance abuse, “said Hamandishe.
Hamandishe added that in some of the services they offer such as counselling sessions, they have already engaged professionals who can even handle youths’ issues with expertise and the attention they deserve.
“I am personally a life coach so for all the youths who come through our organisation we teach them about life, empowerment, personal development and entrepreneurship among other key areas of life.
“Also we have a professional and competent team that can handle complex issues with good treatment and are able to take the issues to the next phases until one gets assisted We work along other partners whom we invite for some sessions just for the purpose of empowering our youths with a vast of knowledge and skills. Very soon we will be hosting a FIFA tournament in Chitungwiza, which will bring together many youths from different spheres of life. This sporting event aims at creating a platform for youths to mix and mingle and also to exchange life-transforming ideas,” he added.
One of the youths who spoke to this publication Mellisa Moyo said “As young people we surely appreciate all the programmes being implemented in Zimbabwe that are aimed at empowering us both economically, as for me I believe that an empowered generation is a successful generation.
“For real mental health challenges are affecting young people out there and some of them end up taking their lives. As young people we need more of youth events where we share our issues and get to learn about life,” she said.
The World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO).The 10 September each year aims to focus attention on the issue, reduces stigma and raises awareness among organizations, governments, and the public, giving a singular message that suicides are preventable.
