By Michael Dibie
As the rest of the world marks the 2023 International Men’s Day (IMD) an advocacy has been made for zero male suicide.
On November 19, International Men’s Day celebrates worldwide the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities. Highlighting positive role models and raise awareness of men’s well-being. Theme for 2023 is “ZERO MALE SUICIDE”. Together we can stop male suicide.
A 2023 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 700,000 people commit suicide annually, apart from many more who attempt suicide globally.
Some Nigerians say the scourge is so imminent in the country currently due to the hard economic challenges the country is facing.
“In the olden days, people commit suicide based on the problem the family have, Some member of the family commit suicide and at the end of the day, the children inherit it and continue with it. the majority of people that commit suicide are men and caused by women,” said Chidi Emmanuel, a Driver.
“Men commit suicide one, because they do not have work that can put food on the table, two marital issues can contribute to it too, if one ventures into ban marital relationship,” Bassey Emmanuel, civil servant.
Experts described suicide as an emerging serious public health issue with greater consequences.
“The major thought in the minds of people who are depressed is no one cares, no one loves me, and a lot of men have this feeling, nobody cares, if anything happens to me now, I carry the load for everybody but nobody carries my load,” Dennis Agbeti, Mental health Counselor.
He further said men should be motivated for a better society. According to him, there is a need to reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues especially towards men because when it comes to suicide, almost 70 percent case are men.
“We need to create awareness, people need to be taught about mental health, how to regulate their emotions and how to take care of them and a lot of men love this feeling themselves. So I need to teach men that they deserve to be cared for, they deserve to take care of themselves. We also need to reduce stigma especially attached towards men,” Dennis Agbeti, Mental health Counselor.
The day is an opportunity for people everywhere of goodwill to appreciate and celebrate men.
