Mental health advocates call for stigma reduction to curb suicide in Africa

Mental health advocates in Malawi and Nigeria are calling for increased early intervention and the removal of social, legal, and religious stigmas to combat rising suicide rates.

In Malawi, experts at a Mental Health Facilitation Training in Lilongwe emphasized that timely access to mental health care and early detection of distress are critical to saving lives. The National Board for Certified Counselors is working with local organizations to address suicide linked to depression, while local leaders urged the public to seek professional help and involve faith communities in creating safe spaces for discussion.

In Nigeria, psychiatrist Professor Taiwo Sheikh highlighted the need to shift the national narrative from criminalization to prevention. He noted that current legal frameworks criminalize attempted suicide, which creates systemic stigma. Additionally, cultural and religious practices—such as denying traditional burial rites or labeling victims as being affected by evil spirits—further discourage individuals in distress from seeking help. Experts argue that suicide is a complex issue often trivialized by social narratives that overlook deep-seated psychological factors.