By Our Correspondent
Nyeri County government has been urged to address the numerous cases of suicide in the area by among other things, creating interventions aimed at tackling mental health.
The local County Assembly members yesterday approved a motion on mental health with majority saying the issue was going beyond concern.
The assembly now wants the county government to urgently seek ways of addressing the issue and arrest the various occurrences being experienced in the area.
Through the motion tabled by nominated MCA Kelvin Kariithi, the assembly is seeking the County Executive to promote Annual Suicide Prevention Campaigns with an aim to create awareness on suicide prevention measures.
Kareithi want the County Executive Committee Member (CEC) in charge of Health Services to implement National Policies and Guidelines on Suicide Prevention at the County Level.
While tabling the motion, Kareithi noted that the Ministry of Health developed a Suicide Prevention Strategy 2021-2026 aimed at preventing suicide and promoting mental well-being.
He further underscored the need for comprehensive prevention strategies to curb the high suicide cases in Nyeri County.
He emphasized that mental health is central to building a healthy, inclusive and productive society adding that psychological and emotional wellbeing is fundamental to the quality of life as it enables people to live a meaningful life.
In a sitting chaired by the Speaker Gichuhi Mwangi, the assembly termed the motion timely and resolved that the CEC in charge of Health Services, facilitates integration of primary mental healthcare in all levels of Health Care Service Delivery, commissions research to determine the root cause of the rise in suicide cases in Nyeri County and implement a data system on suicide risk surveillance .