Criminalising suicide directs resources towards punishment which has no significant deterrent effect.
Mental health
Arts, Culture and Sport Andrew Chatora’s debut novella Diaspora Dreams stares back at the White gaze
Zimbabwean writer Andrew Chatora stares back at the white gaze and immigrant alienation in his debut novella, Diaspora Dreams. The English-teacher narrator is increasingly alone between a host country that cannot validate him and a home country that is too damaged for rear-view dreams.
African identities How the pandemic has complicated life for LGBT communities
“The pandemic has restricted movement and, by extension, community with chosen family. The absence of this means exposure to distress with little support,” says Aanu Jide-Ojo, a clinical psychologist working with the LGBT community in Nigeria.
Arts, Culture and Sport This Is Africa presents: COVID-19 storytelling series
In a creative storytelling collaboration with the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), This is Africa explores new realities, based on the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic. The collection of feature stories, essays, cartoons, video and animations brings together different experiences, initiatives and perspectives on how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected and altered many lives across the continent as Africans continue to forge new realities and routines for themselves.
Lifestyle South African universities need to know why students’ suicide risk is so high
Rates of suicidal behaviour are higher among South African students than among the general population or students in other countries. Understanding why will help shape prevention efforts.
Politics and Society Kenya’s mental health services receive $1.35M U.S. foundation grant
The Indiana University Center for Global Health announced a $1.35 million grant that will help address mental health in western Kenya for the next three years. The grant seeks to make mental health more accessible in Kenya and the initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Moi Teaching Hospital.
Arts, Culture and Sport The Peace Exhibit: African artists fighting depression during Covid-19
The uncertainty generated by COVID-19 has continued to increase the levels of depression, stress and anxiety of young people and the disease is having a direct impact on the mental well-being of many. Nigerian photographer Obegwu Chudy decided to ignite conversations using an exhibition in a bid to highlight the mental health challenges.
Politics and Society Akachi was a remarkable human being: On mental health, how not to react, and what universities can do to help
May 13, marks one year since Akachi Chukwuemeka died by suicide, aged 21. Neke and I found and carried him to the UNNMedicalCentre that morning. I wrote this as a reference for how to discuss suicide, how schools should help. I still haven’t mourned him.
Politics and Society Managing the impact of fighting Covid-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers
Hundreds of psychologists and psychiatrists are volunteering to offer support