Three suicide cases within the space of one week has again rung the alarm bells among the authorities about what needs to be done to address the issue.
The point was made by the Police Spokesperson, Su’a Muliaga Tiumalu, yesterday during an interview with the Samoa Observer.
Su’a confirmed three cases of suicide last week, with the victims between the ages of 19 and 28 years old.
The first case involved a 20-year old man from Aleisa. The second case was a 22-year-old man from Afega while the third incident involved a 27-year-old male from Lalomalava, Savai’i.
While the Police gave the details of how and why the suicides were committed, the Samoa Observer does not publish details as part of its community work to try and address the issue.
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According to Su’a, the cases last week is a wake up call for everyone. “The ministry is trying to look at some ways to reduce this problem,” he said.
“All these cases happened within a week, it’s very sad.
“So right now, we are trying to look at ways to work together with some organizations like the Samoa Victim Support Group, Fa’ataua o le Ola, Samoa Umbrella for Non- Governmental Organizations and many other organizations to raise awareness programmes that will hopefully reduce this problem.”
From their experience though, Su’a said the age category mostly affected are young people and youth.
“It’s mostly young people,” he said.
“We find this very disheartening because these are young people with their futures ahead of them.
“Our only advice to our young people is that suicide is not the answer to your problems, it will not make the problem go away.
“It will actually make the problem bigger because then you will put your parents and your family in a very bad situation and they will have to live with it for the rest of their lives.”
Su’a reminded that God gave “us life and so it is not ours to take that life away when we feel like it.
“We should embrace the life that God gave us and if you have problems, then let’s talk about it, let’s hear it.
“If you don’t want to talk to your parents, then find someone that you feel comfortable around and share your problems with.”
Su’a also reminded that there are organizations that can provide help.
“We are here to help and we will listen but don’t think that committing suicide is the answer because it is not.”
Su’a also urged parents to play a more proactive role in the lives of their children.
“We advise the parents to give their children a chance to share what is in their minds,” he said.
“I know that Samoan parents are very hard on their children. As a parent myself, I know this. Back in the days, we only listened and never asked any questions.
“However, nowadays life is different. Life is going really fast and we ought to give our children the chance to share what they want to share, and also what their problems are.
“That way, we can help them get through their problems and let them know that we are always here for them and care for them.
“That way taking their own lives will be far away from their minds because they know that they can always talk to us parents if they ever have a problem.”
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