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=Suicide in Namibia= NEARLY 850 attempted suicides were reported to the Ministry of Health in the eleven months between 2010 and 2011. According to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, suicide is the leading cause of death in Namibia and it “is on the increase”. Shaun Whittaker, who researches suicide issues in Namibia, said that suicide “is obviously a crisis in Namibia”. He added that Namibia has “one of the highest rates of suicide in the world” and said there is an urgent need to be proactive in tackling the issue.

According to Whittaker, the two main groups affected by suicide are young adults and teenagers. He said research indicates that the suicide rate amongst young adults is the highest, and linked primarily to unemployment.

Some factors that contribute to suicide

 * Unemployment
 * Poverty
 * Loss of loved ones
 * Breakdown in relationships
 * Arguments
 * Work related problems

Prevention
The first step would be to open a suicide prevention centre, which should focus on prevention programmes, workshops, training, counselling and other awareness raising campaigns.

Statistic
In 2003, the annual statistic was 22 out of 100 000; the number dipped slightly in 2004 to 19,9suicides per 100 000; in 2005 suicides increased again to 23,8 per 100 000; in 2006 it was 23,2; in 2006 22,4 per 100 000 people. In 2008, police statistics showed that on average, 21,5 people committed suicide out of 100 000 citizens. The latest statistics, from 2009, showed that 22,7 people committed suicide out of every 100 000 people.