Kisii County, Masige East Ward MCA Michael Motume has lamented the high rate of suicide cases among the youth from the region attributing it to lack of clear communication between parents and their children on self-discipline.
He appealed to the youths to embrace self-discipline to enable them control their emotions for health and long life.
“This world needs people who value self-control to enable them think rationally before taking any step to the extent of self-termination of life.” He said.
The MCA spoke when he paid an announced visit to Nyamache Sub county Hospital in Kisii County.
He prayed and shared food with patients, majority being the youth who he asked to avoid using alcohol and other drugs which he stated lure them into idleness.
Majority of both male and female suicide attempt victims admitted in the hospital, opened up and cited frustrations from parents who forced them to walk out of their homes to seek employment after completion of University and secondary education.
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“Wazazi wetu hawatuelewi (Our parents don’t listen to us), they want us to move out of homes to look for employment which is rare in the country,” said one female victim who asked not to be named for the purpose of privacy.
Another male victim admitted that he tried suicide after being rejected by his girlfriend who blocked him on phone call communication.
“Nilikuwa nampigia mara mob tunabonga, halafu siku hizi nambiwa mteja, nami nikadecide kuwa mteja forever, instead of missing that manzi,” (I used to call her several times, we chat, but recently my calls couldn’t go through as she blocked my contact, I too decided to be a permanent absent lover by killing myself,) he said.
Motume noted the vice among the patients and promised to take a personal step to control it.
“I note with a lot of concern that attempted suicide is a menace amongst our youths and as a local Leader I will do anything to address the vice. “He said.
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He asked the jobless youths not to lose hope but instead join constructive groups like church youth choirs or community environment conservation groups to enable them mix freely and share their common aspiration that can help them rebuilt their lives.
He also asked them to join Local TVETs to enable them acquire practical skills in addition to their academic certificates to enable them have a wider job market opportunities.
A social community health worker Martha Nyang’arisa said that other victims of attempted suicide in the area include adults who are involved in land possession disagreements with their neighbours.
“Some parents sell their pieces of land to enable them get money to educate their children to University but when they complete and stay home without employment, the parents get desperate and prefer death rather than to live a miserable life of poverty.” She said.
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She asked communities to understand some of the symptoms on the people who contemplate suicide for early interventions.
She mentioned self-isolation, excess drinking of beer, and negligence on personal hygiene and careless utterances to family members concerning their projected self-killing.
She asked the government to employ more counselling and guidance experts in the learning institutions to curb the initial mental illness among the youth from early stages.
By Our Reporter.
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