Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
MENTAL health experts have urged communities in Manicaland to break the silence surrounding suicide and mental health challenges, warning that stigma, judgment and fear often prevent people experiencing emotional distress from seeking life-saving support.
The call comes as communities marked September, a month dedicated to raising awareness on suicide prevention and mental well-being.
Mental health expert, Mr Marvin Musekiwa, said society needs to fundamentally change the way it talks about suicide, moving away from silence, blame and condemnation towards empathy, understanding and support.
He stressed that suicide should never be viewed merely as a statistic, as every life lost leaves behind devastated families, shattered friendships and grieving communities.
“Suicide is not just a statistic. Every life lost represents a family, a friendship, a community, a future and a story that can never be replaced. When we reduce these deaths to numbers, we risk losing sight of the human being behind every statistic and the people who are left to live with that loss,” he said.
Mr Musekiwa said changing the narrative begins with creating safe spaces where people can openly discuss their mental health struggles without fear of ridicule or rejection.
“For a long time, mental health and suicide have been subjects that people are uncomfortable discussing. That silence can leave someone who is already struggling feeling even more isolated. We need to create spaces where people can say, ‘I am not coping’ or ‘I need help’ without immediately being judged or dismissed,” he said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 720 000 people die by suicide globally each year, while millions more grapple with suicidal thoughts or attempt to take their own lives.
WHO also notes that Africa records the highest suicide rate among all regions, underlining the urgent need for stronger prevention strategies, greater awareness, improved support systems and easier access to mental health services.
Mr Musekiwa said the alarming figures should compel communities to treat suicide prevention as an ongoing public health priority rather than a topic discussed only after tragedy strikes.
“These numbers should make us pause and ask ourselves what we can do differently. Suicide prevention cannot only become a conversation after somebody has died. We have to identify distress early, encourage people to seek assistance and strengthen the support systems available to those who are struggling,” he said.
He also challenged the widely held misconception that discussing suicide encourages suicidal behaviour.
“There is a misconception that if we talk about suicide, we will somehow put the idea into someone’s mind. That should not prevent us from having responsible conversations. When such conversations are approached with care, empathy and the right information, they can give someone the confidence to speak about what they are experiencing and seek help,” said Mr Musekiwa.
He emphasised that preventing suicide is a shared responsibility involving families, churches, schools, workplaces and community organisations, all of which are often in a position to identify warning signs and offer support.
Mr Musekiwa further urged society to stop treating emotional distress as a weakness, saying seeking help is a sign of courage, not failure.
“Being able to recognise that you are struggling and reaching out for assistance requires courage.
“We need to stop telling people to simply ‘be strong’ when what they may need is someone to listen to them and help them find appropriate support,” he said.
Special attention should also be paid to young people, who face mounting pressures related to education, relationships, employment, family circumstances and uncertainty about the future, he added.
“We cannot assume that because someone is young, they have nothing serious to worry about. We need to listen to young people and take their concerns seriously instead of automatically dismissing them as attention-seeking,” said Mr Musekiwa.
He also cautioned against assigning blame when a suicide occurs, warning that such reactions can compound the suffering of bereaved families.
“When a suicide occurs, the immediate reaction is often to ask who failed the person or what the family should have done. While there may be lessons to learn, blame can deepen the pain of those left behind. We need to focus on understanding what happened, supporting survivors and identifying ways of preventing another loss,” he said.
WHO states that stigma and social taboos surrounding mental illness and suicide remain major barriers to people seeking help when they need it most.
Mr Musekiwa said meaningful change will only come when conversations about mental health continue beyond awareness campaigns and become part of everyday life.
“We should not wait for September to talk about mental health. The conversations must continue throughout the year because people do not only experience emotional difficulties during a particular month. We need communities where mental health is taken seriously every day and where people know that there is nothing shameful about asking for help,” he said.
He added that the ultimate goal should be to build compassionate communities where people feel heard, supported and valued long before their struggles escalate into a crisis.
