Malawi Police Service (MPS) says financial challenges and relationship issues are among factors fuelling the continued rise in suicides in the country.
The observation follows recent police statistics showing that 281 suicide cases were recorded between January and June this year, representing about 28 percent increase from last year’s 220 in the same period.
In an interview on Thursday, National Police deputy spokesperson Harry Namwaza said besides debts and relationship issues, family conflicts, as well as drug and substance abuse among the youth are also contributing to the rising suicide cases.
He said: “There is a need for a concerted effort by all the stakeholders because the people just need to be well-informed and well counselled that whenever they have issues they should not resort to committing suicide.”
Police data shows that out of the 281 cases, 246 were males and 35 were females while in the same period last year, 198 males and 22 females committed suicides.
Psychotherapist Beatrice Magombo, who is also the founder of Mindset Services, agreed that the country’s current economic status has fuelled suicide cases.
“Currently, the economy is bad in the country. So when things are bad, it becomes hard for people to withstand pressure mentally,” she said.
Suicide is illegal and Section 229 of the Penal Code stipulates that “any person who attempts to kill himself shall be guilty of a misdemeanour [minor case]”.
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