AFRICAN Institute for Ending Violence, Bullying and Suicide (AFRIBS), a non-governmental organisation that educates people on issues of mental health, depression and suicide said Zimbabwe is experiencing a surge in mental health related deaths.
AFRIBS is a voluntary and community working organization that works nationally and regionally to impact the implementation of mental health and ending violence, depression, bullying and suicide.
The local organization said the number of deaths in relation to mental health and suicides has increased.
“In the first quarter of 2018 there were 94 reported cases of suicides but this has increased to 129 during the same period in 2019,” said Founder and Director Zenani Masuku.
“Reports say that in the whole world in 2018 Zimbabwe was ranked 19 on suicide rates but this could have changed due to the economic situation that we find ourselves in right now.
“Our organisation holds trainings and workshops aimed at capacitating people on how to handle cases of mental health,” she said.
Masuku said she is currently holding seminars countrywide with the latest having been held in Harare with Jibilika Trust.
“The training sought to raise awareness of mental health and how much it is slowly leading to the decay in society through an escalation in cases such as depression, schizophrenia, anxiety and bipolar disorders,” she said.
Source: Zim morning post
#Suicide deaths # increase- AFRIBS