In the world in which many of us grew up, any report of a medical doctor jumping headlong into the lagoon would be attributed to the diabolical acts of some witches and wizards. Today, Nigerians are aware that otherwise normal people, including successful professionals, could nurse a feeling of emptiness and despair that ultimately triggers suicide. But at a time concerted efforts were needed to address the challenge, reporting such tragedies tends to either glamourize or stigmatize what ordinarily are mental health issues.
It is against the foregoing background that I commend ‘The Morning After A Guide for Media Reporting and Prevention of Suicide in Nigeria’, a very insightful book that deals with how to handle a major health problem hardly ever discussed in Nigeria. With chilling statistics and anecdotal references, what Olufemi Oluwatayo and Martins Ifijeh are telling us is that since not all wounds are visible, we do not always know what people around us are going through or what action they might take when pushed to the edge. For that reason, they argue, there is an urgent need for sensitivity in the way suicides are reported in Nigeria. They have also proffered solutions on how the silent public health challenge can be prevented in Nigeria.
This is a major work that should provoke a serious conversation on how and why many Nigerians are now taking their own lives.