Omusati suicides on the rise

A 26-year-old teacher died by suicide over the weekend after struggling with a long-term illness, while a retired police officer also died by suicide on the same day.Both incidents took place in the Omusati region on Sunday.Omusati police spokesperson, deputy commissioner Moses Simaho, said officials are concerned about the rise in suicide cases in the region, with at least two suicides recorded per day for the past four weeks.He urged Namibians to pay attention to each other and pleaded with those struggling emotionally to speak up and not to suffer in silence."Seek counselling if you have to. There is always someone willing to listen and ease the burden," he said.Just last month, deputy health minister Esther Muinjangue said Namibia has the fourth highest suicide rate per 100 000 people on the continent.Muinjangue said the main reasons for suicide have been recorded as depression, rejection, hopelessness, family problems and poor self-worth.She said the regional suicide statistics from January 2021 to May 2022 indicated that Omusati has the highest recorded incidents of suicide at 105, followed by Ohangwena in second place with 100 cases.Ending the painPolice confirmed that Walter Tukondjeni Hamana (26) died by suicide on Sunday afternoon in a teachers&#039; housing unit at the Okathitu Combined School.The incident took place at Okathitu-Kalyokotsandi village, in the Tsandi constituency of the Omusati Region.In a suicide note, Hamana explained that he had been sick for a long time and chose to end his life to ease the pain.Simaho said Hamana died in his bedroom and no foul play was suspected."A suicide note was found in the room, which stated that he had been sick for a long time and that is why he decided to take his life," Simaho said.Next of kin have been informed and Hamana’s body was transported to Okahao police mortuary for an autopsy.In another suicide on Sunday, a retired 62-year-old police officer from Omuulukila village, Outapi constituency, died by suicide.Simaho said Ausiku Kaludia’s lifeless body was discovered in her own field, hanging from a mopane tree.She did not leave behind a suicide note, and no foul play is suspected.Simaho said her body has been transported to Outapi hospital mortuary and will be transported to Okahao police mortuary for a postmortem. The investigation into both incidents continues.tuyeimo@namibiansun.com

Omusati suicides on the rise

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-28

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Omusati suicides on the rise

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-28

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