Changing the narrative
A call for collective action on World Suicide Prevention Day
As we observe World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September 2025, with the theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” it is vital to confront an uncomfortable truth: suicide is a global crisis demanding urgent, collective action.More than 720 000 people die by suicide each year, one every 43 seconds, with devastating effects on families, communities, and societies.
Africa bears a disproportionate burden, with the continent recording the world’s highest suicide rate at 11.2 per 100 000 population, above the global average of 9.0. Namibia is particularly affected, ranking first in Africa and fourth in the region with a rate of 9.7 per 100 000. During the 2023/24 financial year, 542 lives were lost to suicide, and in the first quarter of 2025 alone, 124 people died by suicide while 3 000 attempts were reported.
According to Izolde Bock, Employee Health and Wellness Manager at O&L Group, multiple factors drive these alarming statistics. Financial difficulties, rising unemployment, and the cost of living have intensified mental health challenges. The pandemic worsened the crisis, with significant loss, isolation, and grief left unaddressed. Cultural factors also play a role, particularly norms around masculinity and traditional beliefs that discourage men from seeking mental health support. Insufficient facilities compound the problem.
In response, organisations like O&L Group are taking action through comprehensive wellness programmes. “Our focus is on psychosocial support, providing free counselling for employees and their immediate families,” explains Bock. The programme also includes awareness campaigns during Suicide Prevention Month, financial wellness training, and supportive leave policies for treatment and rehabilitation. Leadership and colleagues are trained to recognise warning signs, fostering psychologically safe workplaces.
Warning signs of suicide can include social withdrawal, declining performance, extreme mood swings, irritability, hopelessness, changes in appearance, absenteeism, substance abuse, giving away possessions, or changes in eating or sleeping habits. Early recognition is critical for prevention.
Bock emphasises hope: “If you are struggling and thinking about suicide, know that help is available. You are not alone, and your life matters.” She encourages reaching out to someone trusted—a family member, friend, colleague, or counsellor—as the first step toward support.
World Suicide Prevention Day calls for a shift from stigma to support, from silence to conversation, and from isolation to community action. Every workplace, community, and individual has a role to play in preventing suicide. With collective awareness, compassion, and action, lives can be saved and hope restored.
Remember: your story is not finished yet. Your presence matters more than you realise, and the world is better with you in it.