Professor David Namwandi’s keynote at the launch of the Research Report on Suicide in Namibia

Windhoek, 27 October 2025

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Keynote address by professor David Richard Namwandi, founder of the David Namwandi Trust, at the launch of the Research Report on ‘An Inquiry into the Alarming Rate of Suicide and Suicidal Ideation in Namibia’.

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Welcome to the launch of the research report on ‘An Inquiry into the Alarming Rate of Suicide and Suicidal Ideation in our country’.

This is a historic day, a day to be remembered for generations to come. We all know that mental health is real and must be tackled head-on. Judging from statistics, every household in our country is affected in one way or another by mental health challenges. Namibia is recorded to have the highest suicide deaths in Africa.

Statistics tell us that during the 2023/2024 financial year, 542 lives were lost to suicide in our country. According to the Namibian Police statistics, 124 lives were lost to suicide between January and March of 2025, 108 of these being men. Worldwide, 720 000 people die every year as a result of suicide. Globally, it is recorded that the incidence of suicide-related deaths is higher in males than in females – roughly two-thirds of suicide deaths are male. 

This trend ought to be reversed, and that is exactly why we are here today. We want to be at par with Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, or even lower in terms of suicide rates – 0.3 suicides per 100 000.

The last thing we want to hear is the word “impossible.” This is doable, if only we can all put our heads together. We must prevent suicide deaths by all means.

The David Namwandi Trust, driven by the desire to transform and enable social development within the nation, decided to join hands and give the best it can to help society regarding this cruel enemy, suicide. We therefore commissioned a team of researchers to carry out an inquiry into the alarming rate of suicide and suicidal ideation in our motherland.

Today, we are deeply honoured and touched by your positive response to our invitation to attend this historic event. This event is not simply about the release of data, statistics, or a mere presentation of the voice of the people; it is an acknowledgement of the silent suffering of our nation, with thousands of our fellow citizens still with tears and broken hearts from suicide-related deaths. It is about reaffirming our collective commitment to protect and preserve life.

Mental health and suicide have become painful realities in our everyday lives. Suicide is one of the most painful public health and social challenges in our nation. Behind every voice and number in this report is a name, a face, a story, a family left heartbroken with unanswered questions, and a community left in grief. The alarming rates of suicide in Namibia are not just a public health crisis; they are a signal of broader struggles in our society today.

This event’s main aim is for the research findings to be publicly presented. These findings, we believe, are of interest to national planning and policy development, as well as an initial step towards a community-based approach to curb mental health challenges and the alarming suicide rates.

The research findings being launched today represent a full year of rigorous study, inquiry, thoughtful analysis, and deep compassion. I wish to commend the research team for their hard work in uncovering the underlying causes, risk factors, current mechanisms in place, and potential interventions that can guide the nation towards meaningful action. These findings form the basis for understanding the complexity of the factors contributing to suicidal ideation as the first step towards prevention. It is my hope and trust that the findings presented here will not gather dust on our shelves but pave the way for all of us to hold hands, each one playing the best role they can to contribute to suicide prevention. These results should inspire policy reforms, community engagement, and stronger mental health services.

We must reinforce early detection and support mechanisms, with particular emphasis on men and the boy child, who remain disproportionately affected by suicide. Recent reports highlight an alarming rise in suicide rates among men, a reality that calls for urgent, coordinated action. This effort must, however, remain inclusive, ensuring that the needs of the girl child are not overlooked. Ultimately, what is required is a collective national response that prioritises emotional well-being and fortifies mental resilience across all segments of society. This is not the work of one ministry, one non-governmental organisation, or one academic institution; it requires concerted efforts from all of us. Each one of us, those present here and those who are hearing this through the media, has a key role to play.

Let this research be our guide and our wake-up call. Let it drive us to transform policies into protection, data into compassion, and awareness into action.

To every researcher, stakeholder, and advocate in this room, thank you for giving a voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves. May your work continue to illuminate the path toward healing and hope.

Together we can conquer this. Let us strive to build a nation where every life is valued and every person has a reason to live.

I thank you.

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