Rwanda : 290 cases of suicide were reported last year
Police reports indicate that 290 cases of suicide were reported in 2012. This number according to police raises concern.
Suicide is the act of self killing. It is often committed because of many factors such as hopelessness which may be caused by depression, alcoholism, drug abuse. Other causes are social issues ranging from poverty, family conflicts, land disputes, incurable diseases among others.
It can also be caused by financial difficulties, poor interpersonal relationships like withdrawal from family and friends, loneliness, unemployment and poor mental health, feelings of hopelessness; feeling no sense of purpose; loss of interest in things one used to care about.
For last year, the common causes of these suicide cases ranged from family conflicts, land conflicts, social and economical problems.
Family conflicts are reported to be the major cause of the many suicide cases that occur in Rwanda. For instance, on New Year, two cases of suicide were reported in Southern and Western Provinces respectively.
In Ngororero district, Sovu sector, Musenyi cell, Cansilda Nyirabagina aged 49, committed suicide by drinking poison (Tioda) and died immediately. The cause of the suicide was linked to family conflicts which resulted from adultery act committed by her husband.
Experts say that warning signs that an individual is imminently planning to kill him/herself may include the person making a will, unusually getting his or her affairs in order, suddenly visiting friends or family members (one last time), buying instruments of suicide like hose, rope, pills or other forms of medications, some chemicals and a sudden and significant decline in mood, or writing a suicide note.
In Rwanda, suicide is not on so imminent, but taking even the few lives should stop. It affects families of the deceased in different ways such as leaving widows and orphans who most of the time, become vulnerable and easily affected by poverty that may lead to prostitution, school dropouts and delinquency.
