Ntungamo District, in partnership with Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), has launched a new suicide prevention manual aimed at addressing the growing number of suicide cases, many of which go unnoticed.
Officials plan to train Village Health Teams (VHTs) and other stakeholders to empower communities with skills to identify risks, report cases, and prevent suicide.
The initiative will be piloted in Rukoni East, an area repeatedly highlighted for registering alarming numbers of cases among young and productive residents.
“We are launching this manual because we want to prevent suicide-related deaths in our district. We are beginning with Greater Rukoni, where we have registered many cases. As a district, we are concerned because when people continue committing suicide, we are losing a lot,” said Dr Amon Bahati, Ntungamo District Health Officer.
“We found that those who commit suicide are mostly young people in their productive ages who should be contributing to economic growth.”
Officials say the manual comes at a critical time, as much suicidal behavior remains hidden, unreported, or misunderstood.
RDC Ntungamo, Miriam Kagaiga, emphasized the need for grassroots engagement.
“This responds to the continued suicide attempts and cases that go unreported in the community. The teams will go to the grassroots using health workers and VHTs of Ntungamo District,” she said.
“The reasons why people are committing suicide include domestic violence. Men often die by suicide, while women attempt it.”
MUST is leading the technical aspect of the initiative, highlighting the global scope of the problem.
“Suicide is a very big problem globally, with 700,000 deaths reported every year,” said Dr Samuel Maling of the Faculty of Medicine, MUST.
“Suicidal cases are being seen in health facilities and communities. This is a serious issue that can be prevented if identified early.”
Dr. Maling noted gender and age patterns. “Women attempt suicide more than men, but men are more likely to die by suicide. The youth and elderly are also high-risk groups.”
The manual details the burden of suicide, its drivers, and warning signs for communities.
“It addresses why people commit suicide, who is likely to do so, what methods are used, the underlying reasons, and how prevention can be achieved,” he said.
Economic distress, domestic violence, and substance abuse are among the strongest contributing factors. “People in debt or facing prolonged court disputes may see suicide as a solution,” Dr. Maling added.
Police at Ntungamo CPS report about five suicide cases annually, mostly linked to domestic violence, land disputes, court battles, and overwhelming debts.
The pilot program will begin in Rukoni East before scaling up to the rest of Ntungamo District, with a focus on crisis management and encouraging communities to share preventive information rather than details of deaths.
