Affiliation:
1. Research Unit of Pastoral and Empirical Theology, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Abstract
Suicide is a pressing issue in Nigeria, often linked to the stigmatisation of mental health rooted in supernatural beliefs. Revealing one’s mental health status is an invitation stigma, which discourages disclosure. The study of the problem of suicide has been reported in various academic publications that deal with the driving factors or the aftermath of suicide incidents in the country. Pastoral caregivers have been shown to play a crucial role in addressing this multifaceted problem. However, some clergy and religious caregivers lack knowledge about mental health, and healthcare providers may have negative attitudes. This conceptual review analyses the role of religion in suicide prevention, focusing on existing research in Nigeria. It examines different religious perspectives on suicide, recognising that acceptance varies within religious contexts. Chaplains and religious healthcare practitioners provide pastoral care through hospital visits, offering support, encouragement, and prayer. This paper advocates for suicide awareness in pastoral care, emphasising the importance of mental health promotion in religious communities. Recognising the challenges of identifying suicidal signs, the emotional impact, and the limited training of religious leaders, this paper concludes by highlighting the complexity of suicide prevention in religious settings. Despite the barriers, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing mental health and the importance of perseverance in prevention efforts are emphasised.
Funder
Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds
Reference76 articles.
1. Doctors’ Attitude towards People with Mental Illness in Western Nigeria;Adewuya;Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology,2007
2. Lay Beliefs Regarding Causes of Mental Illness in Nigeria: Pattern and Correlates;Adewuya;Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology,2008
3. Epistemological Issues in the Reportage of Suicide and Mental Health in Nigeria;Akintayo;African Scholar Journal of African Innovation & Advanced Studies,2022
4. Illness Coping Behaviour of Outpatients with Depression or Diabetes Mellitus in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria;Amadi;Mental Health, Religion and Culture,2016
5. Exorcism And Conversion To African Pentecostalism;Anderson;Exchange,2006