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Government has called for stronger systems to support mental health and suicide prevention, saying suicide must be treated as a human issue and not just a medical one.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Technical Services, Kenneth Lishimpi, outlined the need for families, schools, workplaces, communities and health facilities to all play a role in identifying distress and rejecting stigma.
Speaking at the launch of “Suicide Is Not a Solution: Transforming Pain into Purpose” at Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Saturday, Lishimpi said the book provided a timely reminder for Zambia to break the silence around mental health.
The event, held days after World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, brought together government officials, mental health professionals, civil society, faith leaders, and families affected by suicide.
“Suicide is not only a health issue. It is a social issue, a family issue, a community issue and, most importantly, a human issue,” he stated.
Lishimpi said behind every suicide statistic was a family left with grief and questions, and stressed the need to create safe spaces where people can speak about their struggles.
The Permanent Secretary noted that government welcomed initiatives that contribute to awareness and emotional wellbeing.
“We must continue talking. We must continue listening. We must continue educating. We must continue supporting those who are struggling. And, most importantly, we must continue creating hope that suicide is not a solution,” he said.
“We must therefore move from simply telling people to ‘be strong’ to actually creating systems that help people become strong,” he stated.
He assured that the government would continue working to make mental health services more accessible, especially for vulnerable and underserved communities.
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