Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, activists are urging greater awareness and support for people struggling with mental health to help reduce suicide cases. The day, marked annually since 2003, is aimed at mobilising global action to prevent suicides. ALSO READ: Suicide prevention: Activists call for more ‘spaces’ addressing mental health Globally, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report released in March 2025 showed that about 727,000 people die by suicide each year, with many more attempting it. Suicide occurs across all age groups and was the third leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds in 2021. In Rwanda, the suicide rate was estimated at 5.6 per 100,000 people in 2019, according to the WHO. A call for support to those struggling with mental health Speaking to The New Times, Jean Claude Murekeyimana, founder of Iwacu Recovery Centre, an NGO based in Nyamata, Bugesera, working to support people struggling with mental health among other problems, said that while people are reminded to be mindful of risks such as depression and anxiety, it is equally important to offer one another continuous support. He stressed the importance of seeking support. “Asking for help is not a weakness; instead, it is a strength,” he said. Murekeyimana also emphasized the need for open dialogue on mental health. “Parents should really make an effort to be present in their children’s lives and support them, and they need to understand that their children will encounter different problems. Support must be continuous, patient, and non-judgmental,” he noted. ALSO READ: Rwanda steps up mental health efforts to combat suicide Pastor Désiré Habyarimana, a cleric and key advocate for mental health, told The New Times that warning signs of suicidal thoughts often appear long before an attempt. He noted that these may include frequent sadness or hopelessness, isolation, difficulty sleeping, sudden anger over small issues, or even speaking about wanting to end one’s life. In some cases, he noted, individuals may write farewell letters, seek harmful substances, or attempt suicide in public or high-risk places. Habyarimana added that life’s challenges, such as unemployment, family expectations, rejection by loved ones, or betrayal by trusted figures, can deepen despair and push people toward harmful thoughts. He stressed that strong relationships grounded in love, respect, and mutual support are critical in protecting individuals from such situations. “Human relationships should be characterised by love, selflessness, respect, and joy,” he said, adding that communities must work together to eliminate injustice, greed, and violence. “Human relationships should be characterised by love, selflessness, respect, and joy,” he said. The WHO says that while the link between suicide and mental health conditions (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) and a previous suicide attempt is well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis. “Further risk factors for suicide include experience of loss, loneliness, discrimination, relationship dispute, financial problems, chronic pain and illness, violence, abuse, and conflict or other humanitarian emergencies,” reads part of WHO’s statement. “Stigma around mental health conditions and suicide means many people thinking about suicide do not seek help. Suicides and suicide attempts have a ripple effect that impacts on families, friends, colleagues, communities and societies,” it goes on.
