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SOCIAL FRACTURES AND PERSONAL DISTRESS : ANALYSIS OF MALE SUICIDE IN DRC

By  MKAKATI updated on January 15, 2024

The phenomenon of suicide represents a sensitive and universal issue, affecting global communities, including within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Once enveloped in silence and neglected by the public and media, the topic has gained international recognition following the tragic death of actor Robin Williams in 2014. This event brought to light the often-ignored reality that even individuals who appear joyful may suffer from profound distress, a reality that particularly affects men. The urgency of detecting these sufferings and breaking the silence around male mental health became evident, leading to a transformation in media approaches with more empathetic and understanding coverage of suicide, as well as better care for individuals grappling with suicidal thoughts and those who have survived suicide attempts.

In an era where mental health and emotional well-being are making their way to the forefront of the social scene, it is essential to examine the repercussions of suicide among the male population in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Indeed, the World Health Organization has highlighted a worrying finding: Africa has the highest suicide rate on the planet. With a global average suicide rate of 9 per 100,000 inhabitants, the African continent exceeds this average with a figure of 11 suicides per 100,000 people. Given such alarming statistics on an African scale, it is imperative to question the perception and real impact of suicide in the DRC.


 

The Hidden Pain: Demystifying Suicide among Congolese Men

In 2014, Kenyan satirist Ted Malanda stated that he could understand suicide for reasons such as heartbreak, unemployment, witchcraft, or a family scandal, but not for depression, which he did not consider as a plausible cause for an African. This opinion reflects a trend in attitudes across Africa and in the DRC, although it is not universal.

The understanding that Congolese have of mental health and suicide remains ambiguous, resulting from a lack of knowledge and the influence of traditional beliefs that prevent us from recognizing signs of distress, particularly among men. Statistics related to suicide in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), especially among men, are insufficient. Due to unreliable data, it is complex to measure the extent of the problem.

Men, often seen as unshakable pillars, burdened with the world’s woes, are supposed to endure without complaint. When they falter, they are viewed as weak or dishonored. In the DRC, an individual who commits suicide is sometimes buried without honor; in some regions, his body may even be whipped as posthumous punishment. Within such an inflexible culture, it is almost impossible to provide adequate support to those in distress and recognize that traditional expectations of masculinity, such as the duty to protect one’s family, provide financially, and conceal emotional suffering, can generate considerable emotional burden and lead to desperate acts.

This psychological pressure, aggravated by difficult conditions such as armed conflicts, poverty, unemployment, and the stigma of mental illness, as well as barriers to accessing mental health care and psychosocial support, can intensify the crisis.


 

Beyond Despair and the Invisible Crisis: Recognizing the Signs and Understanding Male Suicide in DRC

Having experienced suicidal thoughts and survived two attempts, I have been able to identify through introspection telling signs such as a marked mood change characterized by loss of interest, increased irritability, bouts of anger, pervasive anxiety, a feeling of despair, persistent sadness, a careless attitude, and changes in my daily behaviors, particularly by withdrawing and a tendency towards social isolation with thoughts transcribed as follows:

“A pressure builds in my mind, but I cling to the hope that my experiences have meaning. Suicidal thoughts resurfacing, from a manifestation of pure and simple exhaustion, of questioning my worth and the impact of my absence. Death is not unfamiliar to me; my past attempts and recoveries in the hospital have gone unnoticed, casting doubt on the importance I hold for those around me. Do I really have value, or have I become skilled at hiding my struggles?

Empathy can be a double-edged sword, its weight sometimes too heavy to bear, which gives the feeling of being a modern-day Atlas, out of place and yearning not to exist. Absent a supportive shoulder or understanding, the pain is skillfully masked. The desire is not always for empathy, but for the freedom to exist without stigmatization, to be oneself without having to conform to conventional masculinity or feign happiness.

No one is to blame for this perceived mental frailty, which becomes more pronounced when self-destructive thoughts arise. Yet, there is a perverse appreciation of the dark intellect that accompanies these thoughts, as if it had become an integral part of my identity.”

Several men may share similar thoughts in more precarious conditions than mine in inflexible environments hence the need to understand how to help them?

 


Awakening Consciousness and Overcoming Silence: Establishing a Prevention Policy

Individuals facing suicidal thoughts require adequate and readily accessible assistance. Alas, there are notable gaps within mental health systems and community resources. This insufficiency can lead to disastrous outcomes. It is crucial to intensify awareness-raising efforts, provide adequate resources, and expand access to psychosocial assistance to prevent suicide and bring hope to those who need it most.

Male suicide in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive response. By tackling the social, economic, and cultural factors that increase the risk of suicide, through the promotion of awareness and education on mental health, and by improving access to support services, we can work towards a future where men’s mental health is taken seriously and treated with empathy and understanding.

It is crucial that authorities, health institutions, communities, and families become aware of the importance of male mental health in the DRC. It is necessary to implement initiatives to raise awareness, educate, and provide mental health support. These initiatives could include campaigns to decrease the stigma of mental health, the establishment of psychosocial support programs, and the improvement of access to mental health services.

Furthermore, it is vital to promote a positive image of masculinity where expressing emotions and seeking help are not seen as weaknesses. Encouraging men to express their feelings and seek support is a step towards lifting the taboo on mental health.

In-depth research into the risk factors associated with male suicide in the DRC is essential to guide future policies and interventions. By deepening our understanding of the specific challenges men face, we can develop more precise and effective strategies to prevent suicide and foster better mental health



Africa, the cradle of humanity, a land that stirs the soul with its mystic allure. My soul chose to be born in a land where golden savannahs stretch far and wide. A land where one can witness the plains come alive with the rhythmic footsteps of herds embarking on their breath-taking migration in a timeless display of resilience and unity. A country that holds beauty, that enchants the senses and ignites wonder.

My land, my motherland Kenya. Born into a Kenyan family of Asian descent, a family that has lived and breathed Kenya and Africa for previous 5 generations, I can only identify as a Kenyan, a proud 6th generation African. Brought up in a family where ‘Being Human’ was the main principal belief. We have been raised with values that don’t differ greatly from those of the thousands of tribes that make up Africa – roots, heritage, family, faith, morals, principles and more.

Many years ago, I stood on stage at a speech writing contest in High School, where I described the strategy behind Muhamad Ali’s glorious win where he “floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee” against George Foreman, in the fight forever known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Years later, never even in my wildest imagination, did I imagine I would be living in the very ‘jungle’ itself, and working in the world of strategic storytelling and encouraging the amplification of Congolese voices and narratives far and wide across the globe from the heart of Africa.

Congo or as it was then called Zaire, a land that was stamped in the memory of the World as the place where Ali fought Foreman and caused a mighty Rumble in the boxing world. A battle that was immortalised in the song ‘In Zaire’ sung by Johnny Wakelin. Congo was a land everyone wanted to know about.

A land that is endowed with all the riches known to mankind. A blessed land, with a rich cultural heritage and a teeming, deserving population. A land sadly destroyed by its colonial past. Which, since its independence, is slowly trying to attain its rightful place in the World. It is here that I arrived five years back.

As I look back on my first five years of living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been moments of floating and very often, little stings. I moved to Kinshasa for love. In the beginning, I can honestly admit, it was not love for the city or the country or the people – I didn’t know enough about this 

ginormous country and the 100+ million people that fill its borders – it was personal love. But five years later, I never thought I could love a country and its people as though they were mine. That love comes from the heart that feels the mystic rhythm of the African land, and I couldn’t be prouder to call it home.

You can never shake the ancient dust of Africa off your boots – no matter how far and wide you travel.

Having lived in London for thirteen years followed by a few years in the Middle East, returning to Africa was natural. 

The love for Africa always remains in the soul. Living in the heart and soul of Central Africa, has been an adventure.

The narratives that have filled Western Media have sung a different song for many years, call it geo-politics, strategic positioning, economic control, all things aside, the story of the Congo has never really been told loudly by the Congolese themselves. From the outside looking in, the perceptions are dotted and plagued with negativity, but on the ground, the beating hearts of the Congolese are rumbling a little louder day by day towards progress, and it’s in these slivers of hope, that the true stories are revealed.

The stories that spotlight the young entrepreneur battling to build a viable business, young students carving out their careers currently into untapped and underdeveloped industries, the non-existent middle class that should build the private sector and contribute to its growth and the country’s economy, international investors building projects that create jobs and wealth for the locals as much as it does for the financial interest in the Congo. We can’t talk about changing the narrative of a country when we don’t discuss the positive changes that education, infrastructure developments, economic policies, universal health care, food self sufficiency etc can contribute towards developing Congo.

In Africa, a transformative era is on the horizon as the continent sets its sights on change and development like never before, and country examples like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya are a testament to these positive changes. A combined drive by the Africans to build an Africa by Africans for a future developed Africa. A daunting task as a fellow African who first arrived in Kinshasa for a two-week trip which quickly extended from month to month and snowballed into creating a business in the field of strategic advisory and communications. It was created around the simple premise – the African narrative needs to be written by the Africans, and the Congolese needed a platform for their voices to be heard as far and wide across the globe.

At the heart of Africa, the center of its soul, the Congolese beats are picking up. Business is quietly picking up, post the first peaceful democratic elections. As the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi embarks on his second mandate, the world waits with bated breath for the promised change and greater development, the impact of which can be felt across the entire population. Whether its infrastructure, governance reform, education, better health, access to basic needs – there are plenty of conversations to be had. Storytelling, an essential part of Congolese culture, an oral tradition that is filled with narratives, stories, and songs, need to be told from the perceptions and opinions of the Congolese.

In the past, and especially in 2023 the power and bias of the international media came to the forefront.

Geopolitics and powerful Media Houses controlled and amplified the narrative that in their perception was important. It’s only natural to question the visibility of certain global issues over another. This raises the question about the impact of our voices when catastrophes and issues affecting an African country are narrated differently. Whether it’s election, unrest or other catastrophes affecting an African country, sometimes the western media does not consider it newsworthy because they do not have an in-depth understanding and information of the issues and disasters that affects this Continent.

There are a lot of positive changes happening as well, and these news worthy developments need to be made a part of the Global narrative. Positive or negative these conversations need to be had openly and who better than the Africans to be at the forefront of this narrative. The true voices of the Congolese need to be heard from their heart and soul and from their perspective. That’s when the true picture of the reality of their lives, struggles and aspirations emerges.

There is a need for a platform where the Congolese voices and the African voices can be heard, where views can be freely given not as a negative but as a positive approach to help bring the DRC to take its rightful place, not just in Africa but also in the World. Is it not our experiences from around the world when put together with like minded individuals – where greatness begins? Where stories and narratives become the basis for legacies.

DRConversations is the platform created as a gift for all the voices that need to be heard, for all the emotions that need to be expressed and to bring forth the dreams and aspirations of a nation on the cusp of development. Join this journey by sharing openly your knowledge and experience to make DRC a happy, positive and progressive Nation.

It’s time for another rumble in the jungle – Welcome to the conversations from the Congo.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             KS