The Psychology Association of Zambia-PAZ says the phasing out of doom and other hazardous chemicals from the Zambian market can help reduce the number of deaths from suicide cases that the country has been recording.
Psychologist and Member of the association Kapambwe Chikontwe disclosed that countries like India and Singapore have succeeded at reducing the number of deaths from suicide cases by banning hazardous pesticides and have carried out studies to that effect.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Chikontwe said the ban should be done gradually by withdrawing hazardous chemicals from the market and replacing them with less hazardous chemicals, which would not lead to death if consumed.
He noted that people opt for choices that are more humane when they decide to end their lives, so if an individual’s first and last choice when planning to commit suicide is doom, they would go for a less effective chemical, which may in the end, spare their life.
Chikontwe said banning such products is a good move because it is difficult to restrict access to hazardous chemicals which are readily sold on the market, noting that the move should be backed by a policy and clear guidelines on how it will be done and relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of Health should be involved.
He explained that mental health conditions are the main causes of suicide because people experiencing mental health conditions are predisposed or vulnerable to self-harm. The Psychologist added that people who are depressed, schizophrenic, bipolar, have anxiety and substance use disorders are more vulnerable to suicide thoughts.
Chikontwe revealed that poverty, debt and bankruptcy also account for quite a number of people who have considered taking their life, adding that some people who are sexually abused also turn to suicide including people with low self-esteem who are not likely to share their problems.
Debate has arisen with some members of the public calling for the ban on doom pesticides after reports of most deaths from suicide from both adults and children are related to ingesting doom – a pesticide that is readily sold across Zambia. Efforts to get a comment from Doom distributors proved futile by press time.
