Half of the suicide victims this year are between the age of 18-45 years - Dr William May

Half of the suicide victims this year were between the age of 18 to 45 years while 5 deaths involved people under the age of 17 years with two deaths between the age of 6 to 12 years.

This has been revealed by the Fiji National University Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr William May while launching the FNU’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

Dr May says from the data provided by the Fiji Police Force it shows that from January to August this year, there are 72 deaths. 71% of these people were males.

He says the awareness month will assist FNU staff and students in self-managing their mental health and well-being.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor adds to address suicide prevention in Fiji, there is a need to have a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and integrated approach because Fiji is losing young and productive people to suicide, which is preventable.

FNU’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Office of the Registrar in collaboration with the FNU Student Association has also launched the ‘Ask, Listen, Motivate, Ask again’ (ALMA) initiative for staff and students to reach out to people who may be distressed.

FNU’s ‘Mental Health Awareness Month’ will culminate with the World Mental Health Day celebrations on the 8th of October.