By Kemo Cham
The campaign group Social Workers Sierra Leone (SWSL) has called on the Government of Sierra Leone to pay closer attention to people going through mental traumas.
The organization made the call as part of a statement issued in response to the reported death of a youngster who alleged took his own life in expression of frustration for failing in a public examination. SWSL said in its statement said it stands in solidarity with and griefs with the family of the late Micford Walker-Johnson.
“The ordinary eyes cannot understand such action, why someone has to take his/her own life because of failing an exam,” the statement reads.
SWSL is a group of young volunteer social workers who provide social work services to vulnerable individuals and communities.
The organization said it recognizes suicide as a mental health issue and therefore, as social workers, it’s members viewed it as a pertinent issue that falls within their mandate to address.
SWSL is calling for “conscious efforts” to prevent suicide anywhere and everywhere, pledging its commitment to help address behaviors that lead pupils committing suicide.
It specifically calls on the government to take the lead, with focus on schools.
“We are particularly calling on government to ensure that every school is allocated at least one trained social worker,” it said.
SWSL cited previous incidences of suicide acts, which it said pointed to the prevalence of it in school. In 2018, it notes, an 11-year old boy in Kenema was found dead after allegedly taking his own life because he couldn’t be promoted to a higher class.
SWSL said that incident and this latest one have been part of a trend that makes examination a leading cause for suicide among school going pupils.
“So, we are asking that let the death of our brother influence concrete actions to put mechanisms in schools to prevent such happenings,” the organization said, adding: “Everyone has a role to play. While social workers can be in the better position to tackle such happenings, as a country, it is high time social work was given the required support.”
It went on: “We don’t have all the answers as social workers to prevent such happening, but we have an integral role to play to help prevent such happenings,” SWSL said.
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