Nandi-Ndaitwah having ‘sleepless nights’ over high suicide rate

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she has been having sleepless nights due to the high suicide rate in the county, particularly the recent cases among teachers.

Speaking at the official opening of the 15th Eenhana Expo in the Ohangwena region yesterday, the president urged local residents to introspect following the recent suicides of three teachers there.

Teachers Titus Nuuyi from Enyana Combined School, Nestory Namhindo from Eenhana Secondary School and Lukas Kalwenya from Ohehonge Combined School all took their own lives within the space of one week.

“Those teachers were not unemployed. We need to sit down and find out what is really going on,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The president said this after the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Sport, Youth, Arts and Culture recently revealed that 16 teachers reportedly took their own lives in 2024, with financial stress and mental health struggles emerging as key contributing factors in 2024.

“I am sure that the people of the Ohangwena region have also been feeling the same, and, therefore, I call upon all residents of this region to do soul searching and ask a big question, what is happening in our society,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.

She said she has directed all civil servants to be sensitive to the circumstances of others.

“The suicide rate in our country is much too worrisome and very sad. We have an inclusive government, and in an inclusive government, we have to listen and pay attention to one another,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.

Ohangwena governor Kadiva Hamutumwa last week said there is an urgent need to prioritise the fight against gender-based violence, suicides and murder in the region.

In a statement released on Thursday, Hamutumwa expresses concern over the increase of suicide among young people and productive members of the community, attributing these losses to the overwhelming pressures of social life, unfulfilled expectations and emotional distress.

Hamutumwa says these recent events compel a serious examination of the region’s support systems.

“It is clear that something is not working in our schools, homes and communities if young people feel isolated, unheard and unable to cope with the demands of social and academic life,” she states.

She further notes that existing systems, whether in education, community outreach or mental health, are inadequately resourced and unresponsive. Teachers, despite their dedication, are often overstretched, while parents frequently remain unaware of the silent struggles their children face.

She says access to professional mental health services is limited, and the pervasive stigma surrounding help-seeking continues to silence those in need.

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