Youth suicides on sharp rise, MTRH boss reveals

Half of the patients at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are teenagers admitted for attempting to commit suicide, Chief Executive Officer Dr Wilson Aruasa has revealed.

Aruasa decried the high number of adolescents committing suicide in North Rift region with half of the patients admitted at the ICU facility for attempting to take their lives.

The CEO said cases of suicides among young people aged between 18 and 23 continue to be a serious problem not only in the region but across the country.

According to Aruasa, most of the suicide cases are related with mental health challenges.

“We receive up to five cases of attempted suicide in a day at the hospital with the majority being young people aged between 18 and 23,” he said.

Speaking during a procession to mark World Suicide Prevention Day in Eldoret town, Aruasa said majority of children and adolescents who attempt suicide have a significant mental health problems, usually depression.

He urged parents, elders and guardians to be more responsible by helping teenagers and children who exhibit signs of mental challenges.

Aruasa urged people with mental health challenges to seek help at MTRH noting that the hospital has modern facilities to treat and manage mental health challenges.

In-depth analysis

He said the hospital is committed to offer health services to patients suffering from mental related challenges who seek medical services at the facility.

Aruasa revealed that due in-depth analysis of patients admitted at the facility after suicide attempt, it had been established that majority of them, especially teenager, were facing mental health-related issues.

“Half of the patients admitted in our hospital after attempting suicide are teenagers and majority of them are a result of imbalance in provision of health services,” said Aruasa.

Aruasa highlighted that MTRH is committed to ensuring that their patients undergo a holistic approach of medical care which greatly helps in addressing mental health challenges.

He said among younger children, suicide attempts are often impulsive as a result of feelings of sadness, confusion, anger or problems with attention and hyperactivity.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Shollei, who also attended the event, said there is need for all stakeholders to be involved in creating awareness on matters of mental health to avert more cases of suicide especially among the youth.

Shollei revealed that due to lack of awareness, she lost her first cousin to suicide. “It is important to involve all stakeholders in the society on creating mental awareness to avert more cases of suicides. It is unfortunate that my first cousin committed suicide a few years ago,” said Shollei who is also Uasin Gishu County Woman Representative.

She reiterated her commitment to be an ambassador in anti-suicide campaign globally.

Thoughts about suicide and suicide attempts are often associated with depression.

A study by Boston Child Study Centre in Boston Los Angeles, US has revealed that young people are particularly vulnerable to suicide.