Musanze – Medical practitioners have been advised to diagnose patients and offer appropriate treatment to curb suicide cases resulting from depression, family conflicts and mental disorders.

The head of mental health division, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Yvonne Kayiteshonga, said this recently during a training workshop on understanding causes of suicide and prevention measures, especially treatment beyond the symptoms.

According to statistics, there has been a worrying increase of suicide cases in Musanze District, from 16 attempted cases in 2010 with six deaths, to 78 cases in 2011 with 15 deaths.

The increasing cases of suicide in the area are attributed to conflicts resulting from polygamous families, depression or mental disorders.

"All people who attempt suicide leave verbal or behavioural messages to family members; the community and the medical doctors should be careful in considering all the signs leading to someone taking their own lives. We must be more vigilant,’’ Kayiteshonga said.

The training was attended by medical doctors and nurses in the departments of mental health from Ruhengeri, Shyira, Nemba and Kabaya hospitals, and designed to help devise strategies to prevent and develop professional capacities to avert suicide. 

"When someone says that ‘I want to die’, it’s a message that says ‘please help me...I have difficulties’. We have to be positive, doctors have to consider the behaviour and health status in order to help prevent this problem,’’ she added.

Earlier, Northern Provincial Governor Aime Bosenibamwe cautioned the public to take responsibility to safeguard their lives by desisting from risky and dangerous behaviour.

"It’s not only a crime but a sin against God. We have life to preserve and to use it well. As leaders, if we don’t help keep the human capital in good welfare, we shall have failed in our work,’’ Bosenibamwe said at the workshop.

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