Africa: 'Suicide Not As Low As Previously Thought'

Australian comedian Jim Jefferies made a striking remark on his show 'Alcoholocaust' recently about the high rate of suicide in western society. "We have a higher rate of suicide in the west than we do in Africa. One in four people are dying from AIDS...yet they're happier than you," he said, casting an accusatory glance at the audience. But is his statement true? What do we really know about suicide in Africa?

Earlier studies of suicide by the World Health Organization suggested that suicide was rare in Africa. More recent research by the WHO proves that there are also indeed cases of depression and suicide on the continent, though there are few African countries that have data about suicidal behaviour. This is because socio-political, religious and cultural factors in some countries mean that suicide is still seen as a crime and can have negative consequences for the families of the deceased.

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