DR. WANGO GEOFFREY MBUGUA

Dr Geoffrey Wango, a counselling psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi, says a positive hopeful attitude to life grants us a purpose to pursue our dreams.

“People who are healthy, feel loved and cared for are not likely to feel lonely or hopeless and thus will not think about ending their lives through suicide. This is because suicide is sometimes a call for help,” he says.

He adds that many people who have confessed to having thought about suicide may not actually attempt it when they feel someone cares about them.

“The presence of a loving intact family, good friendship, strong social support system for children, teens and the aged decreases the likelihood that a person will think of suicide, or died of it.

The absence of anxiety, depression, substance abuse and mental illness tends to decrease suicide attempts,” says Dr Wango