This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
September 15, 2019, marked World Suicide Prevention Day, a day that brought to the forefront the scourge of suicide that affects many lives.
As I listened to stories of individuals who have taken their own lives, I was struck by the realization that suicide can affect anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.
One such story was that of a young university student who died by suicide after his father's passing. His mother, a hardworking single parent, was left to grapple with the question of what she could have done differently to prevent her son's death.
Another story that stood out was that of a young woman who took her own life after being sent home for having menstrual blood on her clothes. Her husband was left to live with the trauma of her death, and the question of what could have been done to prevent it.
These stories, and many others like them, highlight the need for a more compassionate world where individuals feel comfortable discussing their deeper thoughts and feelings.
As Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Moi University School of Medicine, I believe that by talking more about our feelings and trying to understand those around us, we can create a more compassionate world.
Lukoye Atwoli is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Moi University School of Medicine.
