The Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN), has concluded plans to empower and encourage Nigerian youths to do research on suicide in order to promote suicide prevention in the country.
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The Founder and National Coordinator of SURPIN, Dr Raphael Ogbolu, made this known at a media briefing heralding the annual conference of the organization on Tuesday in Lagos.
Ogbolu, also a Consultant Psychiatrist, said that the conference would be an avenue for dome youths to present their conducted research work on suicide and suicide prevention.
According to him, SURPIN has supported no fewer than six students drawn from different secondary and tertiary institutions across the country to carry out the research.
He explained that two participants were from secondary schools, while the other four participants were drawn from tertiary institutions namely – University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin and Ahmadu Bello University.
“A total of six students sent in their proposal for the research; to which SURPIN supported and gave them seeds to carry out the research.
“Therefore, during the conference on Saturday Sept. 28, the six students will be presenting their research work for judgement and reward.
“The first two (1st and 2nd) positions will receive prizes, including the third position.
“The motive is to promote and encourage suicide research among youths, address mental health issues, prevent suicide and curb the menace of stigma that surrounds suicide in Nigeria.
“Studies have shown that youths are most affected by suicide.
“Therefore, we want to change the narrative by getting more youths involved in suicide issues; which will invariably help in reducing the incidence of suicide in the society,” Ogbolu said.
Speaking, the Training Coordinator of the Initiative, Ms Titi Tade, said that the programme was inclusive for everyone (youths) who have interest in suicide research.
Tade, Head, Medical Social Services Department, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), explained that the programme focused on youths because they were more affected by suicide cases due to the social and psychological struggles around them.
According to her, since inception of SURPIN in 2017; every year the initiative try to do one programme or the other for the youths with the aim to encourage youths against suicide ideation.
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She said, “Most of the calls we’ve had in the past are concerning youths who were at the verge of committing suicide or even youths that drink substances to terminate their lives.
“I think it’s a good thing to encourage youths to go into research works for suicide and suicide prevention.
“This is because it will serve as medium for not only educating them, but also preventing suicide attempts among Nigerian youths”.