Sodiq Ojuroungbe The Program Director at the Society for Family Health, Aisha Dadi, has said there is an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to tackle rising adolescent suicide cases, particularly among young people aged 10 to 19. Dadi revealed troubling statistics, noting that one in seven adolescents worldwide suffers from mental health disorders, which contribute to 13 per cent of the global disease burden for this age group. Quoting the World Health Organisation, the mental health advocate lamented that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds globally and the second leading cause in Africa.
She spoke this weekend during a virtual workshop titled,” Community Mobilisation for Suicide Prevention in Nigeria” organised by the Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group. The Nigeria Suicide Advocacy Working Group convened by Prof Taiwo Sheikh brings together over 70 organisations, experts, activists and individuals determined to address the rising suicide rates in Nigeria with compassionate care in place of the threat of punishment. The Group seeks changes to all Federal and State laws in Nigeria that criminalise suicide.
Speaking on mobilising youth for suicide prevention, Dadi expressed concern that adolescents today grapple with a range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, and behavioural disorders. She noted that these issues were worsened by adverse conditions such as poverty, financial constraints, and discrimination b.