Did you know that people living with HIV (PLWH) are more likely to commit suicide?
According to a study published by the National Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Affective disorders which surveyed 1560 people living with HIV/AIDS, 26% (405/1560) of participants reported lifetime suicidal ideation and 13% (204/1560) reported lifetime suicide attempt. (source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032711003958?via%3Dihub).
This is in contrast to the prevalence of suicidal ideation among the general population which stands at 2% according to World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys (source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20816034/).
This increased risk of suicide is fuelled by several factors among them:
- The stigma associated with HIV.
- Social discrimination and isolation.
- The stress of managing a chronic illness.
- The risk of developing depression and other mental health problems.
- Economic hardships often associated by the increased budget to cater for the disease.
But all hope is not lost. Thanks to organizations such as Children of God Relief Institute – Nyumbani, people living with HIV/AIDS can life full and happy lives. Nyumbani has taken several initiatives over the three decades of its existence to alleviate the challenges faced by PLWH especially among children.
Established in 1992, Nyumbani is the first and only orphanage that caters exclusively to HIV+ children. It has over 1000 children directly under care through its programs:
NYUMBANI CHILDREN’S HOME in Karen and NYUMBANI VILLAGE in Kitui. It also
has a community outreach program, Lea Toto Program, which provides services to infected children in the slums of Nairobi and operates five centers in Kangemi,
Kariobangi, Kawangware, Kibera, and Zimmerman. Over the past 30 years Nyumbani has touched the lives of over 10,000 children.
Nyumbani has helped to reduce the rates of suicide through:
- Regular counselling sessions and provides support groups for PLWH in our Lea Toto centres.
- Provision of economic, social and psychosocial support to children living with HIV
- Empowering families and communities to better take care of PLWH.
- Holding campaigns against stigma and discrimination. In 2004, Father D’ Agostino – Nyumbani’s founder, won a court case forcing schools to enroll children living with HIV.
Whereas organizations like Nyumbani are fighting to reduce suicide cases amongst PLWH, you too can play a part. You can:
- Speak out against stigma.
- Encourage people to share
- Genuinely listen and care.
- Refer them to suicide helplines if you feel they need professional help.
- Support them in their battle reminding them it is okay not to be okay.
- Support organizations such as Nyumbani.
If you are battling depression or suicidal thoughts, reach out to Nyumbani or the following organizations via their toll-free lines listed below.
Befrienders Kenya: +254 722 178 177
CBT-Kenya: +254 739 935 333
Oasis Africa: +254 (0) 110 862 23
Niskize : 0900 620 800
Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation, EMKF: 0800 723 253
