JUTH Marks World Suicide Prevention Day 2026 with “Call to Break the Silence”
Silence can conceal suffering, but a compassionate conversation can save a life. This was the message as Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) commemorated World Suicide Prevention Day 2026 with a symposium urging communities to speak openly about suicide and mental health.
Held under the theme, “Breaking the Silence: Engaging Faith Communities in Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention,” the event aligned with the global campaign, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide, Start the Conversation.”
The symposium brought together healthcare professionals, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, media practitioners, and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in suicide prevention.
Setting the tone for the symposium, Professor Amaka Ocheke, a member of the Suicide Prevention Team, facilitated an interactive session that encouraged religious leaders to share their experiences with suicide and mental health within their communities. The discussion revealed real-life encounters with individuals battling suicidal thoughts, highlighting the critical role faith leaders already play as first responders in offering hope, support, and referrals.
Delivering the keynote presentation, Consultant Psychiatrist and Coordinator of the JUTH Suicide Prevention and Response Team, Dr. Anna Bwatyum Gyang, described suicide as a preventable public health challenge driven by biological, psychological, social, environmental, and spiritual factors.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year, with 73 percent of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young people aged 15 to 29. Dr. Gyang added that for every reported suicide, many more attempts occur, underscoring that suicide is preventable, not inevitable.
Drawing from JUTH’s suicide helpline, Dr. Gyang revealed that 52 percent of callers seeking help for suicidal thoughts were men, with most callers aged 20 to 35 years. Financial hardship, gambling, debt, addiction, and business failure were identified as major triggers among men, while domestic abuse, postpartum depression, and relationship challenges were common among women.
She challenged stigma surrounding suicide, stressing that over 90 percent of people who die by suicide have an underlying mental health condition, and that
“Asking someone directly about suicidal thoughts does not plant the idea, it can open the door to lifesaving support”.
Representing Dr Pokop Wushipba Bupwatda, the Chief Medical Director Jos University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Njem Josiah Miner, Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, reaffirmed JUTH’s commitment to suicide prevention, describing religious leaders as frontline responders who are often the first point of contact for people in emotional distress.
The hospital also announced free basic mental health and suicide prevention training for churches, mosques, schools, youth groups, and community organisations, while encouraging referrals through its suicide prevention helpline.
The symposium ended with a call for stronger partnerships among healthcare institutions, faith communities, the media, government, NGOs, and the public, emphasizing that suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility.
If you or someone you know is struggling, JUTH’s Suicide Prevention and Response Team can be reached at:
1. 08140752897
2.08142241007, You are not alone, and help is available.
GALLERY
