Concern over increase in number of suicides in Samoa

Friday, October 31st, 2014

A 19 year old employee of one of the banks in Apia is the latest of the rising statistics of suicide cases.

Police reports say the young man booked a room at a hotel at Fugalei on the 21 October 2014.

The number of suicides in Samoa has been decreasing in recent years.

However, according to a report in Talamua, concern has been expressed over an increase in the past three months.

For parents not to experience the loss of a child through suicide, they need to speak to their children with “tender, loving care”, said the Acting Police Commissioner Misa Talaimanu Keti.

“Choose your words well and never speak out of anger,” he said.

“Parents are adults and understand life because they are much older than the children,” said Misa.

Police records show that one suicide was the result of a scolding by a mother.

An attempted suicide was also the result of a mother’s scolding.

Another suicide was the direct result of a father belittling his son when the son reminded him (the father) that his school fee was due.

Misa said it is not a sin to admit to a son or daughter that he was wrong or had forgotten to pay the fees in time.

Parents tend to shame their children when they fail in things, said Misa.

Fa’ataua Le Ola (FLO) is an organisation that re-opened its doors in 2012 to provide counseling services for those who have suicidal problems.

Their location, at St Josephs Building was provided by the Catholic Diocese free of charge through Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga.

At that time the Chairperson of FLO, Papali’i Carol Ah Chong said, “Suicide is neither a rich man’s disease nor a poor man’s curse. It is common through all levels of society. It is an issue we should never be silent on,”

“Fifteen years ago suicide and mental illnesses were taboo here in Samoa, not to be discussed as it brought shame onto the family. ”

“Too many people suffered in silence and this was reflected by the fact Samoa was dubbed ‘the suicide capital of the Pacific’,” she said”

“Today we are blessed with the work FLO has already done in the community people are more open to talking about these issues.”

“This is the best way to prevent suicide-to inform people of its existence and to teach people to look for the warning signs.”

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