Suicide is considered a taboo globally and in many cultures. When one does commit suicide, regardless of whether or not it was fatal, people start to look at this person, their entire life and family differently. Worse than death, people do not know how to deal with or react to a suicide. Because of this, the questions and negative comments surrounding the person’s death or attempt of suicide can make the period after a suicide traumatizing for the victim’s survivors.
In Nigeria, a country where people are expected to be grateful to be alive, appreciate the life they have and to fight on against all odds, suicide is seen in a particularly negative light.The result of one study, that researched the attitudes of Yoruba college students, found that in comparison to Americans they had extremely negative views towards suicide. Many stated that they would be ashamed had they lost a family member to suicide and that those that commit suicide must be crazy and angry people.
Despite these negative views, suicide does occur and is actually quite common amongst Nigerians elderly population. Many older Nigerians have also admitted to attempting suicide or having suicidal thoughts. So despite the stigma that suicide is given, it occurs quite often amongst older people as it does in other age groups. Suicide for elders is usually a result of extreme depression, isolation, loneliness and exclusion, the same reasons that put elders in other countries at risk of suicide.
Often questions like: How could someone want to take their own life? or How horrible could his/her life been to make them do this? Were they crazy? are asked after a person’s suicide. Often, elders that have died or attempted suicide are ostracized and seen as selfish for hurting their families and causing them shame and embarrassment, without insight to see what drives them to seek this option.
Instead, questions regarding how they can help prevent and what leads people to suicide should be asked. Since there is so much stigma and negative perceptions surrounding suicide, there needs to be more prevention programs, education and support given to Nigeria’s elders to lower the rates at which suicide is used as an easy exit from their hurt and pain.
References:
Lester, David, and Adebowale Akande. “Attitudes about Suicide among the Yoruba of Nigeria.” The Journal of Social Psychology 134.6 (1994): 851-53.
Ojagbemi et al.: Suicidal behaviour in old age – results from the Ibadan study of ageing. BMC Psychiatry 2013 13:80.
Pritchard, Colin. “Changes in Elderly Suicides in the USA and the Developed World 1974-87: Comparison with Current Homicide.” International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 7.2 (1992): 125-34.
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