Suicide Cases on the Rise in Chitipa District, Police Express Concerns
Chitipa Police report an alarming increase in suicide cases, with 60 cases registered so far this year, mostly affecting men and youth.
CHITIPA, MALAWI — Police in Chitipa have expressed concerns over the escalating number of suicide cases in the district, writes Tawonga Chisale.
According to Gladwell Simwaka, spokesperson for Chitipa Police Station, the district has recorded 60 cases of suicide from January to date, indicating a significant increase compared to last year's data, which reported only 4 cases.
Simwaka highlighted that the majority of the victims are men and youth who often struggle to seek guidance and counselling due to their reluctance to share their worries with friends.
Family and relationship issues have been identified as the main causes of stress and depression, leading to these tragic incidents.
To combat the rising trend, the Karonga-based Pamoza youth organisation has launched the Wanangwawane project, aimed at providing mental health education to youths in Chitipa and beyond.
The organisation is currently conducting lessons for the Wenya and Mplale youth clubs in the area of Traditional Authority, Mwenewenya, with plans to expand to other districts.
Gomezgani Mhango, the programme manager at Pamoza, explained that the initiative was born out of concern for the high levels of depression and suicide cases among the youth in the area.
The mental health training seeks to address relationship problems, anger, depression, and stress, which often contribute to suicidal thoughts.
Mhango emphasised the importance of youth advocacy, urging participants to share the knowledge they acquire during the teachings with their peers across the district.
The goal is to raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues.
Derick Mwandira, a member of the Wenya Club, expressed gratitude for the organization's timely intervention, believing that it will significantly improve the lives of many youths in the district.
Mwandira stated, "We are very thankful for this initiative as it has come in time, and we will now live better lives as we have, for example, learned how to handle stress, which most of the time leads people to commit suicide."
The Wanangwawane project receives funding from the Breuckman Foundation, enabling Pamoza to continue its vital work in mental health education.