A VAST majority of men in Fiji choose to handle their personal emotional problems by consuming excessive amounts of kava, according to Lifeline Fiji’s Jeremaia Merekula.
He told a panel discussion at the World Suicide Prevention Day opening on Wednesday that more males were committing suicide.
It was revealed that of the 63 lives lost to suicide from January to August this year, 49 were males.
“For males, and I think not only for males, but for everyone, especially in traditional settings, this thing, the culture of silence, we are very high on it,” Mr Merekula said.
“For us males, a lot of times when things happen to us, we love to bottle up our feelings and we like to do other things to hide whatever we are going through.”
Mr Merekula said acting out was indicative of an emotional issue being faced by an individual, and that this was further stifled by the culture of silence.
“One of the things we have also realised is that this cultural silence, we are so into it that sometimes we think that this is respect, and we are respecting this person, but if respect looks like losing someone, that is not respect.”
Mr Merekula said suicide statistics for males were increasing locally and globally.
“For us males, while growing up, men are already told, you are a male, you must not cry, you are the head of the household.
“When things happen like this, you don’t like to show your emotions and after that, when you start bottling things up, when that volcano erupts, things get impacted and your loved ones are impacted as well.”
Mr Merekula said support systems, a solid community of support and healthy coping mechanisms for men must be determined.
“A lot of times we just bottle things up, if that is causing the death of someone, please share your problems with a loved one.
“In the West, over the years, it has hit a high number of suicides in Fiji and it’s a challenge for our stakeholders in the West.”
