By: Nyima Sillah
The National Assembly Member for Banjul North Constituency, Modou Lamin B. Bah, has expressed deep concern over the recent surge in suspected suicide cases in the Gambia, calling for urgent national attention and coordinated action.
“In just one week, The Gambia has recorded three suspected cases of suicide. These are not merely news items or statistics. They represent real lives, families left grieving, communities in mourning, and a nation in quiet crisis,” Bah said in a statement shared with this medium.
The lawmaker underscored the painful reality faced by many individuals suffering in silence, trapped by cultural expectations, legal consequences, spiritual shame, and a severe lack of mental health services.
“In our society, being strong often means concealing emotional pain. But this silence is becoming unbearable. It is costing lives,” he stressed. “The recent tragedies are not isolated. They form part of a troubling trend that highlights the urgent need for a nationwide conversation on mental health and, more importantly, a coordinated national response.”
Bah emphasized the need for a National Suicide Prevention Strategy rooted in compassion, evidence-based data, and concrete actions. He also called for immediate legal reforms to decriminalize suicide, allowing individuals in crisis to seek help without fear of arrest, punishment, or public shame.
“For every suicide reported, there are likely many more that go unspoken. And for every life lost, countless others are quietly suffering, hoping someone will see them, hear them, and help them,” he concluded.
The growing number of suicide cases has sparked concern among rights advocates and mental health professionals, prompting calls for urgent and sustained intervention.
