Stronger parents/wards tie key to suicide reduction – Psychiatrist

A consultant psychiatrist, Dr. Emmanuel Ajuba-Ifeatu, has advocated for a closer relationship between parents and their wards as a way to reduce suicide cases.

Ajuba-Ifeatu, who stated this during the commemoration of the World Suicide Prevention Day, underscored the need for parents to be more open to their teenage children to forestall suicide attempts.

“With the increasing rate of suicide cases being recorded amongst young people, there is need for parents to be more open to their teenage children to forestall suicide attempts,” he said.

The psychiatrist, who is also a guidance counsellor, argued that one of the main causes of suicide is suppressed views which were not expressed. He canvassed for stronger guidance and counselling units in schools.