Men between 18 to 25-yrs-old have the highest rates of suicide and self-harm - Empower Pacific CEO

Men and boys between 18 and 25 years old had the highest rates of both attempted suicide and deliberate self-harm.

This was revealed by Empower Pacific CEO Patrick Morgam who adds that women and girls between the ages of 18 to 25-years-old had higher rates of attempted suicide and between ages 36 to 55 years for deliberate self-harm.

Morgam says as people age, they may experience certain life changes that impact their mental health.

He says some of these that have been proven through the provision of their mental Health & Psychosocial Support Services, are life changes such as coping with a serious illness or losing a loved one.

The CEO says although many ordinary people adjust to these life changes, the elderly may experience more severe feelings of grief, social isolation or loneliness.

Morgam says when these feelings persist without the relevant support and assistance provided by the family, loved ones and the community, it can lead to mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.

He says their focus is to attend to survivors or persons who have attempted to take their own lives and practice deliberate self-harm.

Morgam says they provide a widely diverse range of services, which focuses on addressing the diversity of the vulnerability of individuals and communities.

He adds supporting the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in communities to achieve social, emotional, physical and financial well-being is also a part of their scope and these include the provision of training and community awareness sessions.