72 people commit suicide upto August this year

72 people have committed suicide upto August this year compared to 89 people for the same period last year, and work continues to reduce the suicide levels in the country.

The Ministry of Health has also revealed that 66 people attempted to commit suicide upto August compared to 81 last year.

While speaking during the launch of the Mental Health Month Program, Minister for Health Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete says the decrease shows that a lot is happening in this space where government, stakeholders and religious organisations continue to work hand in hand.

He says that research shows that for every suicide, there are at least 15 people who maybe in depression.

Doctor Waqainabete, TISI President Sadasivan Naicker, Acting Chairperson of the National Committee on Prevention of Suicide Selina Kuruleca and WHO representative Saula Volavola and other stakeholders lit a candle each and observed a moment of silence for those people who had lost their lives.

Today we marked the launch of Mental Health month with our stakeholders and Mental Health professionals. 10th Sept is Suicide Prevention Day. We can all be helpers. Ask somebody today and spread the love #Set-Tiko pic.twitter.com/ATTpyPEgC2

— Dr I Waqainabete (@Nadokoulu) September 8, 2020

The Minister for Health says they are strengthening community health programs with more doctors and nurses being trained who can support and provide counselling.

Dr. Waqainabete says Saint Giles Hospital has appointed their counsellor, they have their psychiatrist and there is also a growing cohort of psychiatrists at the hospital. He says this is primarily because FNU has been able to provide the training and government can provide the sponsorship to the students.

He says they aim to have all 200 health facilities where people can have an assessment for mental health and have treatment and support.

The Minister adds the government's focus is to fight very hard to be COVID contained because if lockdowns continue, that has a negative effect on the anxiety levels.

He says the anxiety levels among Fijians has decreased as we are COVID contained and have no community transmission in almost 140 days.