Counsellor Educator, Licensed Professional Counsellor and Advocate, Dr Bolanle Ogunnubi, has said that suicide prevention is not the work of psychiatrists alone but everyone’s duty that must happen at multiple levels.

Ogunnubi gave the advice yesterday, ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, which is commemorated every September 10.

However, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report underscores the urgency of suicide prevention, estimating that 727,000 people died by suicide in 2021 alone, adding that it is a leading cause of death among young people across all countries and socio-economic contexts.

According to Ogunnubi, suicide in Nigeria remains a pressing challenge.

She said: “The World Health Organisation places our suicide mortality rate at about six deaths per 100,000 people each year.”

Some systematic reviews suggest the rate may be closer to 17 per 100,000—well above African and global averages. That translates to more than 15,000 Nigerians dying by suicide yearly.

“Behind those statistics are real people: university students battling despair, breadwinners crushed by economic pressures, widows and elders living in isolation. Suicide is not a number; it is a human tragedy we cannot afford to normalise.”

The counsellor educator said that some of the suicide warning signs to look out for include persistent talk of hopelessness or wanting to die, withdrawal from family and friends, sudden mood swings or recklessness, giving away cherished possessions unexpectedly, and heightened substance use, anxiety, or insomnia.

“When people reach this point, silence kills. Compassionate listening, timely intervention, and accessible services can change the outcome.

“Policy action matters in suicide prevention. Just as the controlled use of Sniper reduced one pathway, implementing Nigeria’s 2023 Mental Health Act is crucial. State governments must prioritise funding, awareness, and enforcement.

“With only about 350 psychiatrists serving over 200 million Nigerians, the treatment gap is enormous. We must invest in community counsellors, expand tele-mental health services, and create workplace and school-based support systems.

“Too often, mental illness is dismissed as spiritual warfare. Changing this narrative requires schools, faith communities, and media to promote science-based understanding.

“Survivors who share their stories remind us that recovery is possible and that speaking out can inspire reform,” she further said.

She said that everyone must recommit to being a society that notices, listens, and responds.