President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has raised concern over the number of lives Namibia is losing to suicide.
She was speaking in a message marking World Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday, where she said men and boys were often expected to endure hardships without complaint and fear being seen as weak if they ask for help.
“Behind every number is a person who was loved, a son or daughter, a parent, a sibling, a friend or a colleague. Behind every loss is a family left asking questions that may never be answered,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said people could reach a point of crisis for many reasons, including financial hardships, unemployment, the breakdown of a relationship, grief, illness, loneliness, family pressures or emotional distress.
“What may seem manageable to one person may feel unbearable to another,” she said.
She urged Namibians not to belittle another person’s pain or tell them simply to toughen up.
“To anyone who feels that life has become too heavy: please do not suffer alone. Speak to someone you trust. Ask for help.
“There is no shame in saying, ‘I am not coping.’ It does not make you weak. It makes you human,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah called on families, friends and colleagues to pay closer attention to one another and added that people who appear strong may be carrying the heaviest burdens.
“Let us ask how they are doing and take the time to hear the real answer,” she said.
She said the recent passage of the mental health bill by parliament was an important step forward, providing for a modern, rights-based approach to mental healthcare, with greater emphasis on community-based services, early intervention and suicide prevention.
“However, legislation must be matched by proper implementation, trained professionals and services that people can reach when they need help,” she said.
