MTRH CEO decries increased suicide cases!
“We receive up to 5 cases of attempted suicide in a day at the
hospital with the majority being young people aged between 18 and 23”
Uasin Gishu County woman representative Gladys Shollei and the MTRH CEO Dr Wilson K Aruasa during a sensitization walk against suicide.
A half of bed occupancy at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital’s
intensive Care Unit are teenagers admitted for attempting to comit
suicide, Chief Executive officer Dr Wilson Arusa has revealed.
Aruasa decried the high number of adolescents committing suicide in North Rift region with half of the patients admitted at the ICU
facility for attempting to take on their lives.
The CEO stated that cases of suicides among young people aged between 18 and 23 continue to be a serious problem not only in the region but the country at large.
According to Aruasa, most of the suicide cases are related with
mental health challenges.
“We receive up to 5 cases of attempted suicide in a day at the
hospital with the majority being young people aged between 18 and 23.
Speaking during the procession to mark World Suicide Day in Eldoret town, Aruasa pointed out that majority of children and adolescents who attempt suicide have a significant mental health disorder, usually depression.
He urged parents, elders and guardians to be more responsible by
helping teenagers and children who exhibit signs of mental challenges symptoms.
Aruasa urged all people with mental health challenges to seek
medication at MTRH noting that the hospital has modern facilities to treat and manage mental health challenges.
He said the hospital is committed to offer total health services to
patients suffering from mental related challenges who seek medical
services at the facility.
Aruas revealed that due in-depth analysis of patients admitted at the
facility after suicide attempt, it has been established that majority
of them especially teens are facing mental health related issues.
“Half of the patients admitted in our hospital after attempting
suicide are teenagers and majority of them are a result of imbalance
in provision of health services,” said Aruasa.
Aruasa highlighted that MTRH is committed to ensuring that their
patients undergo a holistic approach of medical care which greatly
helps in addressing mental health challenges.
He said among younger children, suicide attempts are often impulsive as a result of feelings of sadness, confusion, anger, or problems with attention and hyperactivity.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Boss Shollei who also graced the event, said there is a need for all stakeholders to be
involved in creating awareness on matters of mental health to avert
more cases of suicide especially among youths.
Shollei regretted due to lack of awareness, she lost her first cousin
due to suicide.
“It is important to involve all stakeholders in the society on
creating mentla awareness to vert more cases of death.It is
unfortunate that my first cousin committed suicide a few years ago,”said Shollei who is also Uasin Gishu County Women representative .
She reiterated her commitment to be an ambassador in anti-suicide
campaign globally. Thoughts about suicide and suicide attempts are often associated with depression.
A study by Boston Child Study Centre in Boston Los Aneles US has
revealed that young people are particularly vulnerable to suicide.
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