On November 6 last year, two UCU students Alex and Harriet died in a suspected suicide incident. Close friends of Alex said he was heartbroken by his girlfriend Harriet, whom he accused of being unfaithful.

 Those who saw him the weekend before the incident said he drunk a lot of alcohol and at one point threatened to have his betrayers killed. Harriet’s nephew reportedly heard Alex say, “I know am going to die but I will not die alone.”
Overwhelmed by his troubles, Alex walked to a petro station, and later tricked his girlfriend into his room where the two met their death.
On 17 April this year, news hit the media that a 23-year-old Bachelor of Social Sciences student, at Makerere University had died in a suspected suicide case. Francis Kigeni reportedly jumped off the fifth floor of a hostel and died instantly. According to close friends, the deceased behaved in a strange manner at times. It is said that even on his birthday, at a party thrown in his honour, Kigeni said he felt worthless and that he lived a ghost life. Kigeni left behind a suicide note saying he was living a troubled life and that there was no one to listen to him.
A 2011 World Health Organisation report estimates one million deaths from suicide annually.The report further says in the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide, and is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years in some countries, and the second leading cause of death in the 10-24 years age group.
And that although traditionally suicide rates have been highest among the male elderly, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of countries, in both developed and developing countries.
It is for this reason that more developed countries like the United States have developed a national strategy for suicide prevention. The department estimates that 7% out of 10% young people have pondered suicide.
Suicide methods that have been used in the act include poisoning, fires, hanging, cutting wrists, and taking overdose medicines, among others.
Experts say hints that one intends to commit suicide is in the negative statements they might say that give an impression of hopelessness, disengagement with reality and society and feeling alone even in the midst of a crowd.
Suicidalogist Dr. Eugene Kinyanda says suicidal behaviour is a spectrum of problems that normally starts with suicidal ideas.
“Things that used to be meaningful to this person all of a sudden seem worthless; they feel hopeless and just want to end it all. The person withdraws and during this period will go on to plan the method of suicide.”
He says one of the ways to tell that a person plans to commit suicide is when after a long period of depression they all of a sudden become happy and start to give away their most prized possessions.
“It can be money, pieces of land, favourite clothes: All these in preparation for their exit from this world.”
Dr. Magaret Mungherera senior consultant psychiatrist Ministry of Health, says a person who threatens suicide must be taken seriously.
“Majority of people who have committed suicide have mentioned it to somebody before the incident. It is just unfortunate that in many instances they are not taken seriously.
“And when they say it, it is a cry for help. They are trying to say ‘look here, I have a problem and I need your help.”
Asked about why the suicidal incidents are growing in the country, especially among young people, Dr. Kinyanda says it is due to many reasons which include economic, social and environmental factors.
“We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. And the broken family structures especially due to factors like the high HIV prevalence are not helping matters.
“Young people are bombarded with so many expectations and when they get disappointed by the realities of the real world, they may choose to end their lives. We fear that the problem will grow unless risk factors like unemployment are checked, says Dr. Kinyanda.
So how do you help a person who exhibits suicidal tendencies?
Dr. Kinyanda says those close persons they suspect are exhibiting suicidal behaviour should not fear asking if they intend to commit suicide.
“And if you ask them about it they might change their minds because to the suicidal person it is a relief that somebody actually cares. They open up about their problems.”
Dr. Mungherera explains that seeking professional help will help in determining the root cause of the problem and that counseling will help the person cope so as to stop thinking of suicide.
“And there is need to educate the public on ways to help people who are suicidal. A person can mention his or her intensions to relatives, friends or even colleagues about suicidal intentions and these people must be able to help them.”