For a small nation like Samoa, the suicide rate is strangely high and this should be a worry not only for the non-governmental organisation driving suicide prevention but everyone in this country.

Seventy-seven people took their own lives between 2019-2022 and on average 20 lives are lost annually to suicides, says a non-government organisation.

The grim statistics were released by the Fa'ataua Le Ola (F.L.O.) Executive Director, Papaliitele Caroline Ah Chong when she responded to email queries from Samoa Observer on Tuesday as the N.G.O. prepares to mark World Suicide Prevention Day this coming Sunday.

Samoa was ranked 39th out of 50 countries in terms of suicide rates by WHO in 2020. Samoa had a suicide rate of 12.6 per 100,000 population.

In 2022, the Samoa Police recorded 28 deaths as a result of suicide, it was 19 in the previous year. It is also saddening to note that suicide is higher in the age range of 14 years to 35 years and most being male.

According to the World Health Organisation, students have higher-than-average suicide rates, at least partly because they feel high levels of pressure to succeed academically.

“When they do not achieve their goals, they may feel that they have dishonored their families. Drug use, sleep deprivation, stress, and poor social relationships can put students at increased risk of suicide,” reads a WHO report.

So what is driving young Samoans to take their lives? As a Christian nation built on the principles of Christianity this should never be the case, as the act of taking one’s life does not exactly give him or her the keys to go to the Elysian Fields. But that is an argument for theologists.

Samoa also has strong culture and family ties, yet these do not seem to be enough. Why is that? Could it be that because of the cultural prohibitions, people are unable to talk about what they are feeling in life and the easiest way out is giving up on life?

Papaliitele makes very good points when she says there is an urgent need for the world to recognise depression as an illness and for governments to seriously address mental health as a grave social issue.

“Suicide is a sensitive topic that many people shy away from and are not willing to address and discuss," she said. "Sadly, the majority of people going through mental health problems do not seek help for fear of being stigmatised and ridiculed.

"It is important to recognise and discern when someone is in trouble, show them empathy and compassion and listen to them.  You may very well save a life if you do."

The close-knit family systems in Samoa should not be just limited to respecting elders and doing everything which is dictated by culture and tradition, but also provide an atmosphere of openness where each family member can talk about how they feel.

Spiritual leaders can be one of the biggest helps in suicide prevention by simply providing an avenue to be approachable and being in touch with members of the flock. For a religious nation like Samoa, spiritual leaders can do much more than they can.

Same can be said about members of the village council. Samoa has to come face to face with the ugly facts that maybe some of the things we are doing are driving some people towards suicide. The expectations that we place on people and the shame they are told they would bear.

Mental health help should be as easy as attaining help at the local hospital. One way forward is to offer nurses who in almost all cases are first responders with recognising mental health issues and making it part of the general health system.

According to experts, most suicidal individuals give warning signs or signals of their intentions. The best way to prevent suicide is to recognise these warning signs and know how to respond if you spot them. If you believe that a friend or family member is suicidal, you can play a role in suicide prevention by pointing out the alternatives, showing that you care, and getting a doctor or psychologist involved.

Major warning signs for suicide include talking about killing or harming oneself, talking or writing a lot about death or dying, and seeking out things that could be used in a suicide attempt, such as weapons and drugs. These signals are even more dangerous if the person has a mood disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder, suffers from alcohol dependence, has previously attempted suicide, or has a family history of suicide.

A more subtle, but equally dangerous, warning sign of suicide is hopelessness. Studies have found that hopelessness is a strong predictor of suicide. People who feel hopeless may talk about “unbearable” feelings, predict a bleak future, and state that they have nothing to look forward to.

Other warning signs that point to a suicidal mind frame include dramatic mood swings or sudden personality changes, such as switching from outgoing to withdrawn or from well-behaved to rebellious. A suicidal person may also lose interest in day-to-day activities, neglect their appearance, or show big changes in their eating or sleeping habits.

This Sunday is World Suicide Prevention Day and the theme is “creating hope through action” which is a call to action and reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and that through actions one should encourage hope and strengthen prevention.