Suicide is a leading cause of death around the world and Fiji has topped the Pacific making it the leading cause of death, 4 times more than the road death toll.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Industry Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya during the Fiji Motorcyclist Association (FMA) cheque handover to Lifeline Fiji this morning.
He says when compared to the same period last year, there were 5 suicide cases reported, but today we have 7.
Koya says last year Lifeline Fiji reached out to approximately 15,000 people and through their Crisis Line received 5,687 calls from those who needed assistance.
He revealed that 80 per cent of the callers were men.
He has encouraged men to talk about how they feel to those they trust and not be ashamed to ask for help.
The Minister says men are not defined by how strong they can be and by not showing emotions and not asking for help.
He stressed that real men care about their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of their loved ones.
Koya says the handover is part of the Fiji Motorcyclist Association’s commitment towards suicide prevention in the country.
Every 36 hours a Fijian attempts to take his or her life and the youngest being 8-years-old.
