The Department of Psychiatry of the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia, has organized a one day symposium to enlighten Nigerians on their roles in preventing suicides in country.
The symposium is in commemoration of the World Suicide Prevention Day which is usually held on September 10 every year.
The number of suicide cases and attempted suicides across the globe is reaching an alarming rate.
It is estimated by the World Health Organization that every year there are currently more than 700,000 suicides in the world and Nigeria is having its fair share of this figure.
This one day symposium organized by the Psychiatry Department of the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia is to commemorate the World Suicide Prevention day.
For the Psychiatry Department of the hospital some of the factors responsible for suicides are mental illness, poverty, social dislocation and substance use.
Experts feel that suicide can be prevented and it’s a collective responsibility of all, hence, this symposium to enlighten Nigerians on their roles.
Implementing measures to prevent suicide is a priority for authorities of the hospital and the Nasarawa State Government.
Participants at the symposium have been embedded with the requisite knowledge and will join in the campaign towards preventing suicides.
This symposium will serve as a reminder that suicide prevention is a public health priority and all hands must be on deck to ensure that suicide mortality rates are reduced.
