Dear HIFA colleagues,
Africa has 1.52 billion inhabitants. 60 percent of Africa's population is made up of young people. Making it the youngest continent on earth. Death by suicide is the 3rd cause of death amongst young people aged 15-29yrs.
About 80 percent of Africans rely on traditional medicine. Africa is the cradle of civilization. Spirituality, that is the belief in the existence in a supreme being is key in the mode of life of Africans. Moreover, life is considered sacred in African world views and spirituality is important.
For centuries Africa has experienced all sorts of traumatic experiences. From slavery, colonialism, war, globalisation and pandemics. All these experiences have affected the health systems as well as the wellbeing of populations.All sorts of poverties have gradually set in. There is a clear relationship between poverty and the onset of mental illnesses. Behind deaths by suicide exists underlying mental health issues as well in most regards.
Even if global trends of suicide rates from 2000 to 2019 have been reducing (WHO,2022), Africa is still the continent with the highest suicide rates (WHO,n.d). That is every year 11 africans per 100,000 die through suicide.
Knowing this for many africans would be surprising as death by suicide is not in alligment with African worldviews. However, this fact contrasts markedly with the changing living experiences of Africans which paradoxically many might be unaware about. For example, the unaddressed impact of the culture shock through globalization is real and affects African communities. Spiritual poverty has become prevalent in the process. Life is no longer considered sacred and attachment to family and community no longer as important as it used to be.
In a context post COVID19, public health in Africa has taking a new turn. Strengthening communities and equipping them is one of the most cost effective ways to promote mental health and reduce mental illness. Interestingly, community approaches to life are typically African. The Ubuntu. The role of the African Union and African CDC in promoting community values is laudable. However, the need to tailor the "idea of suicide prevention in Africa" to suit African realities would enable the growing efforts of WHO Afro to be more effective in handling this growing public health problem.
Health systems which are culture sensitive could prove to be more responsive and effective in handling critical public health concerns especially mental health related.
Warm regards,
Didier Demassosso
HIFA country representative WHO afro region
HIFA country representative for Cameroon
Didier Demassosso
Mental Health Expert
HIFA Country Coordinator For WHO AFRO Region
HIFA Country representative of the year 2014
MHIN Africa Knowledge Exchange Assistant
Member of the African Evidence Network (AEN)
Cameroon Human Right Fellow 2017
http://www.hifa.org
Tel :(237) 670-14-01-23/694-90-20-29
twitter:@DDemassosso
skype: Didier Demassosso
linkedin.com/in/didier-demassosso
HIFA profile: Didier Demassosso is a mental health practitioner, Consultant (WHO , MoPH Cameroon...), Mental health advocate , Youth advocate with 10 years experience in mental health development in Cameroon. He is also a health communicator and educationist. HIFA Country Representative For Cameroon/ HIFA Country Representative of the year 2014 / Regional Coordinator for Africa. He also currently volunteers for the Mental Health Innovation Network Africa as Knowledge Exchange Assistant. https://www.hifa.org/support/members/didier