72% of the suicide victims are men

72% of the people who committed suicide this year were men and leading mental health expert in Fiji, Selina Kuruleca says this is because men choose comparatively more fatal means to end their lives and they are less likely to talk about the issues they are going through.

According to Police, 72 people have committed suicide up to August this year, out of which about 52 victims were men.

Acting Chairperson of the National Committee on Prevention of Suicide, Selina Kuruleca says women are more likely to seek out avenues of getting help compared to men.

She says because of the patriarchal society we live in, men are seen as ‘be all end all’ of everything and there is an unspoken belief that they are immune from mental health issues, when in actual fact they are not.

Kuruleca also adds that men are most of the time seen as breadwinners in their family and sometimes his family may not realise the stress he is in.

The psychologist adds that there is a need to have more targeted intervention to prevent suicide.

She says there is also a need for research and baseline surveys and look at the different demographics and different profiles of the communities attempting and contemplating suicide and then using targeted interventions to suit those particular communities.

If you need to talk to someone or need help, please call Lifeline Fiji's toll-free number 1543.