Nigeria loses an estimated 15,000 lives to suicide every year, the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) has warned, calling for urgent media responsibility and public awareness to curb the crisis.

According to MANI, the country’s suicide rate stands at 6.9 per 100,000 people, aligning with global figures that show one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, amounting to over 700,000 deaths worldwide annually.

MANI’s Operations Manager, Toluse Dore Francis, said this at an event to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 in Lagos.

Francis noted that the suicide figures represent a public health emergency that requires deliberate efforts to break the silence around mental health.

“We are bridging the gap on mental health by encouraging people to speak up. No young person should ever feel alone in the struggle, and no one should be lost to silence and shame over a preventable issue like suicide,” Francis said.

She stressed that responsible reporting by the media can significantly reduce suicide risk, urging journalists to avoid sensational coverage that fuels stigma and harmful stereotypes.

MANI’s Executive Director, Abiodun Oguntola, added that the organization provides free counseling and therapy for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts.

“Anybody dealing with suicidal thoughts should know that help is available. When you speak out, we are here for you. Silence only makes the struggle harder,” he said.

The group reaffirmed its commitment to raising awareness and creating safe spaces for mental health conversations to prevent avoidable deaths.