A distressing trend is emerging in Uganda as mental health experts highlight the troubling connection between rising poverty levels and an alarming surge in death by suicide. According to Mr. Derrick Kizza Mbuga, the Executive Director of Mental Health Uganda (MHU), pervasive poverty across the nation is exacerbating mental health issues, resulting in an average of 15 suicide attempts reported through MHU’s hotline in the last quarter of the year.
Mr. Kizza points to regions such as Karamoja, Kapchorwa, and Busoga, where poverty has become a catalyst for an increasing number of suicide cases. He underscores that calamities like the Covid-19 pandemic, landslides, cattle rustling, and insecurity in areas like Northern Uganda have further contributed to the distressing escalation of suicide rates.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, people were confined indoors, leading to a significant economic downturn. Mr. Kizza emphasizes that the lingering financial struggles have left individuals trapped in poverty, pushing some to view suicide as a seemingly insurmountable solution to their plight.
The executive director outlines various factors contributing to the rise in suicides, including chronic illness, unemployment, torture, substance abuse, alcoholism, mental illness, and relationship problems. He also notes that the lack of support from the community and the criminalization of suicide attempts have exacerbated the issue.
Drawing attention to gender-specific patterns, Mr. Kizza highlights that men, who tend to keep their problems to themselves, are at higher risk of suicide. In contrast, women are more open about their challenges and seek help, providing a potential buffer against such drastic measures.
Alarming statistics from the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH) reveal that suicide rates stand at 18 percent, with men at a higher risk than women. Mr. Kizza expresses concern over the inadequacy of mental health facilities in the country, citing the overloaded Butabika Hospital, Uganda’s sole public rehabilitation center with a capacity of 550 beds, currently accommodating around 1,750 patients.
Supporting Mr. Kizza’s findings, Mr. Joel Ssemwanga, the Executive Director of Uganda Mental Health Fellowship-Atanekontola (UMHF-A), underscores the role of poverty among mental health patients in contributing to the alarming suicide rates. He recounts an incident where a member of their organization committed suicide due to unmet needs, highlighting the profound impact of poverty on mental health.
Tragic individual cases further illustrate the distressing consequences of poverty on mental health, including a nine-year-old pupil in Kyanzanga, Lwengo district, who died by suicide after being detained by the school for unpaid fees. Other instances involve educated individuals like Brian Wetaka, a Chemical Engineering graduate, who succumbed to suicide after struggling to secure employment.
The statistics from the 2019 annual Police crime report and the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate a worrying rise in suicide cases globally, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support and poverty alleviation measures.
