By Sivuyile Majikijela and Nthabiseng Thalanyane
Mental health is a major global concern, with depression being the most common mental disorder. According to Dr Jerry Reed who deals with suicide cases, reveals that losing the ability to complete daily routine tasks can lead to depression. Recognised as a leader in the field of suicide prevention, Dr Reed further said there could be other physical ailments such as the elderly not being able to drive, read, engage in conversation or other activities that allow a person to stay independent or find meaning. His organisation, National Centre for Suicide Research & Prevention deals with violence and injury prevention. Dr Reed said: “ageing can also present transitions that are difficult to cope with. Approximately 60 percent of adults live with a chronic disease such as arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure and 58% have at least two of these”. Psychologist and lecturer, Thabisa Bakumeni, told Men’s Voice that mental illness and suicide cases amongst 50–60-year-old people are often a direct result of traumatic life events such as GBV and sexual abuse which are the leading factors of anxiety and depression. “There is a significant interlink between trauma and depression. Traumatic life-changing experiences such as enduring abuse from a partner, rape, gender-based violence and childhood trauma often put a person at risk of developing depression as an adult. These events harbour a person’s life and the risk of chronic depression increases with the number of traumatic events that one has experienced”. Bakumeni added that the burden of debt has added to the woes that have been brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. The burden is felt more by men due to the prevailing stereotypes that frame them as the ‘head of the household ‘and the role of being the provider.
“They find themselves under immense financial stress because the pressures of being the provider are overwhelming, especially when they can’t pay bills and support their families. They then fall under what I call debt depression, where they end up having depressive symptoms brought on by the emotional stress of debt”, Bakumeni explained. She emphasised that the Covid19 pandemic imposed a heavy economic burden on a lot of individuals. “The aftermath of the Covid19 pandemic created enormous disruption in our lives, especially our financial security. Some people lost their jobs and some never recovered, now imagine if you have all the financial freedom one day, and it has suddenly taken from you the next. This sudden change and uncertainty caused emotional strain, which often led to an increase in denial, stress, anxiety and depression”. Equally, this could lead to physical and emotional abuse as well. According to Lieutenant Colonel Martins Mmamadisha, beyond mental illness, emotional abuse is another factor that contributes to suicide, which she described, as an ongoing process in which one individual systematically diminishes and destroys the inner self of another.
She elaborated that the essential ideas, perceptions and personality characteristics of the victim are constantly belittled. “Eventually the victim begins to experience this aspect of the self as seriously eroded or absent most of the victims end up taking their lives. According to the Lieutenant Colonel. Every nine seconds a woman is beaten, this exposure to violence leads to an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in women. Women who are sexually abused show a 12-20 increase in suicide attempts”.
She further said in the first six months of this year, about 50% of suicide cases among women were largely due to them being abused by their partners. Psychologist Bakumeni concurred that people in the age group between 50-60 have a higher risk of depression and suicide if they have a longstanding chronic or life-threatening illness. “People who have chronic illnesses must adjust to the illness and the treatment. This affects them in many ways because I often find that some continue to be in denial even after receiving the results of the said illness. Sometimes, an illness can affect a person’s abilities, and independence and change the way they live and see themselves. These changes can cause sadness and hopelessness.” “Individuals that have marital and relationship problems are most likely to end up having mental health issues. The most common issue is the divorce; going through a divorce can be stressful and can take a serious toll on one’s mental health. The process of a separation or divorce involves a great change that also signifies a major loss, sometimes individuals go through stages of grief and so it is common for individuals to exhibit symptoms of depression and suicide,” Bakumeni said.
