A Survey of the Causes of Suicide and Preventive Strategies in Kenya

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Theoretical.

Life has been a little difficult within Kenya and individuals have started at alarming rate to make permanent decision on a temporary problem, something that can be prevented in good time before it explodes to the children. Life has a lot of demands and a lot of responsibilities. The pressure of life is too much to bear and pushes people and families to the brink of falling where others see no future or any help that comes through either from the government or from friends and relatives. Life dangles precariously to some if I can explain better. This together with issues in homes thus increasing the risks of suicides. In Kenya suicide or hitherto attempted suicide will lead an individual to jail term of up to two years because it’s a criminal offence. Despite such measure by the government there is still a rise in suicide cases especially within the youths aged between 24 and 30 years. Therefore, it’s very paramount that the need to find the causes is done quickly so that prevention of marauding cases can be solved. We are losing a lot of these young and physically strong youths and that will mean tomorrow we will not find workers that will push our economy ahead.

This survey reviews cases of suicides within the country and how they can be prevented in future. This bulletin also views the reasons these cases occur and a possible and detailed preventive strategy. The other sources of information in here is under research from my church discussion , while some are received from my great friend and National counseling and mentorship group leader Professor Robert Mwangi who has dealt with many cases of marriage disputes, suicide cases and of encourages people who are in the verge of giving up in life. The information here should lead us to factors that have caused or that are causing suicides such depression, family pressure, work pressure, financial uncertainty, trauma, drug use and abuse, loneliness and other factors not mention herein. Further, these factors have been known to have thrived into the youth widely and are a cause for concern in our communities and in Kenya at large. Preventive measures and an immediate action need to be taken to help them. The youth are the back bone of our nation and the leaders tomorrow, without them we are nothing.

The government of Kenya in conjunction with ministry concerned and the communities needs to come up with clear cut strategies that will win the war against suicide. This research recommends a more involved government in bringing in programs that can help in health care services and counseling of the youth and community at large. The churches should incorporate counseling into the chaplaincy which will be very critical in nurturing people and encouraging them in the ways of survival.

INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITIES;

Keywords; SUICIDE IN HOMES; SUICIDES IN SCHOOLS; KENYAN SUICIDE RATES; FAMILY SUICIDE CASES.

Introduction.

Suicide is a very diverse and strong term and has been termed or defined differently by many ancient scholars. An act of taking one’s own life voluntarily or intentionally. A person who commits suicide does a treacherous act. Dr. schneidmann describes suicide as a condition that will not occur without excessive psyche-ache, that is mental pain. In most aspects’ death stands out, that death is self-inflicted. This is because individuals can attempt to take their life, but if it doesn’t cause death, then we call it attempted suicide. The rate of the suicides keeps climbing and this happens not only in Kenya but even to the developed and underdeveloped nations. The internet has not helped much instead it has caused more suicide as the cyber suicide theory where the victims of suicide earn new tricks or ideas.

The world health organization (WHO) opines that suicide is the 4th largest leader in death of the youth and the future of the countries that depend among the youths. It’s has been considered to be an important public health issue involving psychological, biological and societal factors of concern according to research that has been done by the national center for health statistic brief( Curtin Wagner and Hedegaard in 2016. In Kenya it’s noted that mental ill health and warped notions of masculinity among reasons mooted for rise in 50% in a year of suicidal deaths. Late last year the Kenya national human rights said that 1,442 Kenyans attempted suicide between 2015-2018 which it said were conservative figures only. The organization linked those deaths to mental ill health caused by breakdown in socio-economic safeguards, saying it was the last resort and path of escape for individuals with unaddressed mental cases. The research further says unfortunately suicide prevention measure have failed terrible. Data from world bank put Kenya suicide mortality rate at 6.1 people in every 100, 000, with men being in the highest category, with 9.1 men in each 100,000. Those are alarming numbers and can really cause a lot of instability in country.

From a theoretical standpoint , the rising cases of suicide amongst youth has led to research on the matter as principals, dons have queued up protocols to try and study the avenue and strategies of how they can help prevent such deaths. This has led to researchers’ on why this happens. The research has also led to factors that cause it to happen. Crossman in (2017) refers to a study by Emile Durkheim which he concluded that behaviors in which is a result of both psychological and social factors. The study also categorizes the two factors into three types egoistic which is associated with depression, altruistic which is associated with an individual’s work and lastly anomic which is associated with social deregulation or social separation. The research further indicates that suicidal tendencies increase as one grows beyond 15 years of age. However, suicide can take place at any age.

Suicides among family members leave a bitter impact on the survivors. A study by Sarkar in 2004 found that development of suicidal ideas stood at 21.7 percent hence the need to understand suicide cases deeply and critically.

In another study by Dogra, Basu and das the roles of personality, stressful life event Life , reasons for living on suicidal ideation., they also found that other factors that contributed to this were more of predictable variables. The Kenya living in abject poverty were also found to have a higher degree of suicidal tendencies as many have given up on hope to harsh economic issue and unsustainable growth.

It’s also noted that 500 people have killed themselves in 2021 more than the whole of 2020 according to report by the Kenya police service. The youngest to take his life was a 9-year-old while the oldest to take his life was a 76 year, this is a dangerous trend having in mind that the young were not even at adolescent stage.

The police chief in Kenya noted that the year 2021 the number of suicide cases were so many and noted that it’s not only alarming but quick remedies needs to be taken otherwise the loss will be much higher. These are just the known cases; there are many more unknown or unreported cases of deaths by suicide. Frequencies of suicidal cases or trends are alarming and present a major challenge in Kenya today. The community as a whole should come out and help other and especially the youth. There is need for culturally-appropriate and locally tailored preventive measures instituted by government and local elders. Clarifying the underlying reasons for suicide is a complex issue.

The next issue of this review or research is the causes of suicide, preventive measure that look deeper into what ails our Kenyan society.

CAUSES OF SUICIDE AMONG THE KENYAN.

In this review there is need to access those vulnerable in the society in Kenya today and are at major risk of committing such act. We shall probe the background factor that push people into committing suicidal acts. This is for the sole purpose of mitigating preventive measures that can be instituted to help in prevention of suicides.

Drug, alcohol and substance abuse is the leading cause of suicidal mortality rate in Kenya today. Various factors have been documented to increase the risk of suicide in sub-Saharan Africa. Risk factors prominently outlined include alcohol and drug and substance abuse. Alcohol has been implicated in the precipitation of suicidal cases, and because substance and alcohol impair mind and bring about radical suicidal thought it’s has been confirmed to increase the cases in a much higher level. Many undocumented cases of suicidal issue have been under the influence of alcohol and drug use in Kenya. This has taken place overboard and not only in rural areas but even in urban developed areas. Drug use has been used as a way to ease pressures of life but in the long run it has created more problems than good including the dreaded suicide cases. A reviewed evidence of relationship between alcohol use and suicide through research by Medline and Psych Info electronic databases. Multiple genetically –related intermediate alignment might influence the relationship between suicide and alcoholism. Increased suicide risks that have been precipitated by alcohol use could also be like social withdrawal, breakdown of social bonds and social marginalization, which are common outcomes of untreated alcohol abuse and dependence on it. Programs for suicidal prevention must take into account that they deal with issues such as alcoholism and reinforce healthy behavioral patterns. Alcohol abuse is the greatest vice that people engage in and if this can be put in check, many lives can be saved. Strict policy on alcohol and drug use should be affected in all major counties in Kenya. NACADA the agency that deals with prevention of substance abuse has been in the forefront without much success and they should now put on bravery boots and help the general public in creating policies that counter the mushrooming of clubs, bar and other revelers places where drug and alcohol abuse is engrossed. In (2021) a research by NACADA revealed that people who are fully connected schools and families are less likely to abuse drugs, and less likely to engage in risk behaviors. It further argues that unemployed people are more likely to engage in drug abuse than the employed which begs the question, where do they get the cash to purchase this alcohol. The research further noted that alcoholics and suicides are characterized by depression, stressful life events, particularly interpersonal difficulties, poor social support, loneliness, high aggression, impulsivity, serious mental illnesses, suicidal communication and prior suicide thoughts or behavior. Alcohol and drug abuse are not only a cause of suicide but has been confirmed as a suicidal behavior.

Depression, this is a mood disorder that affects an individuals’ feeling and adjustments on how they feel. Research by Loko and stern in (2014) identified depression as the major causes of suicides. Kenya is not left behind as the main factor that has caused a lot of suicides is depression. The challenge with depression is that it does not have any specific emotions that can be associated with it. Depression is the major cause as notes Wanyoike in(2014) research noted that suicidal behavior in Kenyans highly influenced by depression as it hinders proper functioning and causes psychological stress. In (2015) Wanyoike conducted a study in Kenya over the causes and prevention of suicides in Kenya. The study noted concerns that communities had to deal with was suicidal behaviors especially among the young, conclusively the study also showed that there was an increase of suicide cases in schools. The cause identified included depression, loneliness, hopelessness, conflicts both in school and at home, poverty, mental issues , diseases especially chronic and among causes not mentioned. It recommended that an authority be developed that can deal with mental and suicidal cases in Kenya and that it should be declared a disaster in Kenya. Further to that the authority should be funded should be able to create policies, principles and rules and regulation to be guided by it and that the community or the society should be fully and equally involved. Frequency of suicidal cases among Kenyans should be handled well before it gets out of hand.

(c). Poverty and hopelessness are a major factor when it comes to suicidal cases in Kenya. Suicidal ideation and attempts pose a major threat especially in rural areas where poverty and hopelessness reign. The majorities of dwellers there have no stable income and live from hand to mouth and on many occasions when some of them don’t find any help or a better sustainable way to guide themselves, then the suicidal thought got in their minds and some end up killing themselves on such issues. WHO found that suicide is a major global public health problem because, numerically suicide happens or takes place in a low- and middle- income areas and in undeveloped surrounding, in Kenya that would be equated with the rural areas? In seeking to understand the precursor of actual suicide, it’s important to study the suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts as these are important pathways to suicide. Population based epidemiological surveys are essential tool for estimating the population health , morbidities, co-morbidities, associated factors, disability and the extent to which health needs are met by the authorities concern in health facilities. All this information is needed in policy to inform the general public for the purposes of planning and to speak with the vulnerable groups. The study aims to examine the prevalence and associated risk factors of tedium vitae, death wishes, suicidal ideation and attempts in a Kenyan household population. Clarification of the underlying reasons for suicide in Kenya is a complex issue and must be tackled as such without general fear, if this issue left an abated then we are going to stare at a risk for loosing even the most important people in the generation to come and that is the youth of this country.

(d) FAMILY PRESSURE is single handedly causing a lot of suicide cases in Kenyan adult individuals, the tendencies have blown up to an imaginable figure. People end up overworking themselves to impress upon their families and when things can work, they feel dejected and label themselves as failures. This in turn leads them to feel wasted, unappreciated and this is where the suicidal tendencies start germinating up. The burden start piling up and because they become too heavy to bear, there is likelihood the family and members start entertaining suicidal thoughts. There have been numerous cases up in the rural areas in Kenya of unreported cases where the family member cannot bear the brunt of not able to take care of his family. There have been cases for past one month of parents killing all his children and then turning on self because they cannot finance or provide for his family.

(e) Illness can be defined as any health disorder that inhibits or affect the physical or mental status of an individual, further to that any health ailments can affect the psychological status of an individual. Individuals especially men are known to hide their ailment for fear of stigmatization and shame a research by Wanyoike ( 2015). Health ailments can result from among other issues poor nutrition, infections, poor hygiene, cholera, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS. Medical conditions such as Diabetes, sickle cell anemia is hereditary. These ailments if not handled can cause loss of hope and eventual death due to suicide. When we talk about suicide cases due to ailments, we don’t just talk about taking poison, hang or self-inflicted pain on themselves, there are individuals who cause suicide by not taking recommended drugs and therefore ignore the drugs because they are tired of them and would rather die than live on them. Some students fear revealing the medical cases or ailments in fear of being secluded. This may lead to depression and as a result leads to loneliness and in turn lead to suicidal tendencies which may lead to death. In (2002) research by Nilsson et al pined that suffers of epilepsy have an increased risk of death by suicide, he further indicates that at adolescent the risk of death is higher as seizure and underlying depression experience and limited medical follow up from consultants in neurology.

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(f) Loneliness is precursor to bad thoughts as it is said an empty mind is a devil’s workshop. The feelings of loneliness and solitude when one has a poor social life and feels unwanted. The feeling is made worse when an individual is an introvert and has poor socialization knowledge. A research by (WANYOIKE 2015) attests to the fact that loneliness was in fact a contributor to suicidal cases, 10% percentage of suicidal was attributed to loneliness as respondents from friends of a victim.

(g) Intimate relationship was also found to be a contributor to suicidal cases, individual who either separated or divorced and could not accept the outcome sort suicide as their last resort. In (2019 ) Kahongeh researched and highlighted several cases of suicide in Kenya that was caused by broken relationships. An example in February 2018 a student names Derrick Kiprop took his life after his fiancé had cut their relationship abruptly. In another incident Kelvin a 22-year killed himself after discovering that his girlfriend was cheating on him and in 2017 another lady killed her after a love triangle turned tragic. These are just known cases or published cases that have been revealed. There could be more cases within the country. In research by change in (2019) it was established or revealed that lovers took their lives because of the big investments they had taken on their wives or husbands. They feel like there is a core part of their lives that has been ripped out.

(h) Socio-economic hardship is another concern and as a factor that contributes to suicidal cases in Kenya. The Kenyan labor market is demanding and lifestyle and economic situation in Kenya has been dire and worsened even by the Covid 19 pandemic that has even brought about a lot desperation to families, as individual has lost a lot of job and stare at a blank future. Due to increased need of sustaining family member and the pressure with it many people lost hope and took their lives. The cost of living in Kenya especially in the urban areas has got a notch higher and people and families are struggling day and night to put food on the table. Hardships resulting from financial responsibility have taken a different direction, education, rent, food and shelter has shot up living poor families to struggle to maintain some. The rural areas have been hard hit as some families have taken back their kids from school because they lack the financial muscle of taking their children to school. Those are the cases that cause suicidal tendencies, some get to appoint where they want to live a lifestyle that is beyond their pockets. This can be devastating considering that they might withdraw, get into depression and can even resort to such unconventional means to solve a problem. As individuals sink deeper into debts and pressure of maintain a lifestyle that is difficult to handle, they even go to an extent of committing suicide.

Trauma, disbelief or shock these can also cause suicide to individuals. Among the risks associated with suicide Trauma is among them. Mortiel at al conducted a survey in (2017). The research claimed traumatic experience can also lead to suicides, he further noted the categories such as parental psychopathology, childhood –adolescent traumatic experience, mental disorder and acute stressful situations. These serious categories can be attributed to cases of suicidal tendencies. The research further noted that there could be more cases of childhood betrayal by a person not from the family and could worsen or cause the traumatic experience. A suicidal behavior is related to trauma, the study suggested further.

PREVENTIVE MEAUSURES

( a) Suicidal behavior is a private issue. However, since it presents itself in the public domain through the expression of thought and actions. The rising cases of suicide in Kenya are things that can be preventable as long as we put good preventive measure, education and creation of hope to the citizens. The most important step is for the government to put at institutional framework for the prevention and control of suicide and suicidal tendencies. Measure to be put in place such as counseling, health care matters and suicide-based prevention mechanism or programs. In implementation of the above measure, it’s important that we consult those in these sectors directly or indirectly involved such as the medical practitioners such as psychiatrists, nurses, sociologist, psychologists, chaplaincies, church leaders and the general health practitioners.

The government also ought to declare suicide a national crisis because of the rising matters and since it threatens continuity and the future generations. This framework created by the government can be addressed by creating policies to identify laws that can help develop effective programs. There have been measure by legislation brought as a bill in parliament to address suicides that regulates the professional in the counseling professionals. In practice, the law clearly states and demands that all in the professional counseling be trained and certified to carry out their duties accordingly and abide by the laws as articulated in the Kenyan constitution and the Kenyan counseling and psychotherapy association. Those that do not abide by the law or be prosecuted if found against the law. Therefore, all counselors in Kenya have the right to execute their duties professionally to help rid the country rising cases of suicide which robes us of qualifies and quality youth who will be the champions of tomorrow. The government should also ensure that counseling who are quacks are rid or removed from the streets. Competent and qualified professionals are the only one allowed to deliver the services as expected.

( c ) Provision of knowledge within the religious institutions is of great help to the cases of suicides in Kenya. In the midst of the main policies that can be used in control, prevention and management of suicide and suicidal behavior among Kenyans is the provision of knowledge to the member of the cloth. The religious leaders are in a better place or better placed to tackle these matters convincingly. Chaplaincy even in higher institutions should be given the priority of tackling the suicide issues competently because it is in churches, mosques and other religious areas that we find people who don’t shy out what they are experiencing in life therefore the religious leaders are an advantageous position to tackle such cases. These programs from the religious people must also be funded fully because they tackle a very strong issue which the Kenyans cannot ignore. This is because it affects a wide range of people.

(d ) Promotion of access to mental health intuitions can help us nip it in the bud. These cases once a suicidal behavior is noted, it’s important that we remember to take someone or advice someone to head to the hospitals to find a lasting solution. We must encourage other to seek help in such institutions and let the doctors who are much experienced handle the cases privately and with discrete.

( e ) Education is a tool to keep of ignorance away. In (2015) a study by Wanyoike on all respondents agreed that school played an important role in preventing suicide attempts by counseling. Conclusively, the study established that there is need for student counselor who must be equipped well enough to help colleagues who are in dire need of counseling and those that may behave in a suicidal manner. Therefore, school stands a good chance of helping those that are unable to help their children at home. Upon creation of a department that is able to help students who are either in suicidal behavior or who seems lonely and disturbed can help stop this death trap to the younger generation. Institutions should hire professional counselors who are well equipped to handle such cases. Hospital, schools, churches, government offices and even communities should identify someone well equipped with ideas that can help those that are going through difficulties in the life’s and might have only suicide as his option.

( f) Drug control is a major boost in reducing the number of suicides in Kenya. Nacadas’ role in Kenya is to coordinate a mulch sectorial public education and awareness programs against alcohol abuse and drug. They should tighten the rules and clear laws and that those that do not adhere to the laws are given stiff penalties and even jailed. This is the only way to win against alcohol and drug abuse and further reduce suicide cases in the country.

( g ) Community policing is not fully utilized, yet its only through community policing that we can know a neighbor who has a problem and help tackle before it escalates to death. There are any cases of people who have terminated their lives without their next-door neighbor notice. The cases have been so much within the community, where the neighbors are only notified by either foul smell or by disappearance of a neighbor for an extended period. To reduce the rates of suicide cases the general community needs to build an idea or programs where each one is noted. It is paramount that general community must be their neighbor’s brother and sister. We must sort to help each other especially on the above-mentioned issue, because who knows we might help someone who is in the verge of dying.

CONCLUSION.

In general, to reduce the suicidal rates in Kenya, there is a need to take this issue with the highest level of seriousness that comes with it. We are losing one too many and this generation needs the same people we are losing every day. Suicide and suicidal tendencies are complex issues that cannot be explained easily even when they are documented studies. However, this review shows or confirms that no one is safe and exempted; these ideas can come to anyone’s mind especially when we are going through difficult times and this affects everyone at a life time. We must avoid named factors if we can and if we cannot be able to avoid them, then we must be able to talk to someone to hear us out. A problem shared is a problem half solved. All these factors that have been researched affect us and contribute to psychological well-being of everyone in Kenya and eventually lead to suicidal tendencies.

Studies have confirmed that the rate of suicide in Kenya have been on the upward trend. The vulnerable people are many both young and old because of the challenges of life. Some of the preventive measures that have been researched here can be worked upon so that we eventually leave in a less stress-free life.

Based on findings on this report, there is still need to collect more data on this report on fata and non-fatal suicidal behaviors in Kenya. This will assist in understanding the extent of the problem and be able to tackle it from the roots and get to the core solutions. The data collected will also act as measure of effective preventive interventions instated by the concerned institutions. This will build an evidence base for a context-sensitive and cultural appropriate prevention programs in Kenya. I believe that human beings can never have a permanent solution on a temporary problem.

REFRENCES.

Bradvick L.(2018 ). Suicide risk and mental behaviors international journal for environmental research and public health (2019)

Professor Peter Mwangi National counseling and mentorship group Kenya.

Dogra, A k s and Das s. (2008). The roles of personality, stressful life events, meaning of life, reasons for living on suicidal ideation; A study in college students SIS Journal of protective psychology and mental health.

Kahongeh, j. (2019). What pushes college students to commit suicide? Retrieved from https;//www.nation.co.ke.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/131056/9789241564878_eng.pdf( W.H.O on suicide cases spike.

NACADA, (2012) Report on rapid situation assessment of drug and substance abuse in Kenya Nairobi. Government printer.

Nilsson, L.A, Farahmand, B.y., Asberg M Tomson, T.( 2002 ) .Risk factors for Suicide In Epilepsy; A case control study.

Wanyoike, B (2014) ,Depression as a cause of suicide. Journal of language, technological and entrepreneurship in Africa- vol 5, no 2 (2014).

Grover, S and Sarkar, S (2004) Suicidal Behavior in adolescents; What can be done? AP J psychological medicine vol 14 .

Mortiel et al and paternoster, R (2017) Social deviance and crime. Theoretical Approach.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/aug/10/concern-grows-in-kenya-after-alarming-rise-in-suicide-cases. ( INFORMATION GIVEN BY DCI Chief in Kenya).

Lokko, H and Stern , T.A ( 2014 ) .Sadness; diagnosis, evaluation and treatment. The primary care companion for CNS Disorder 16.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biwOB5LYZaM The way out of depression and anxiety.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/aug/10/concern-grows-in-kenya-after-alarming-rise-in-suicide-cases ( Kenya National Human rights.)