September 15, (THEWILL) – Depression and other mental health conditions often drive individuals down a dangerous path that ends with suicide, a major public health challenge.
Suicide has been part of human history since ancient times, causing over 700,000 deaths annually and impacting individuals and communities globally. This is why rising cases of suicide call for urgent attention and collective action. In commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day, which is observed globally on September 10, IVORY UKONU writes on celebrities who almost attempted suicide at some point in their lives.
Ubi Franklin
Music entrepreneur, Ubi Franklin once revealed that he almost committed suicide between July 2016 and March 2017 during his struggle with depression. At that point, he was paying the mortgage on his house and even after completing payment, the urge to take his own life did not stop. Instead, it grew worse.
“I was so scared and all I kept saying and asking myself was ‘Who will take care of my son? I got home and started acting in a funny manner. My security guard had already turned on the power generator. I screamed at him to turn it off. I needed some peace and quiet. I was in that dark house all by myself and everything was falling part,” he recalled.
Modupe Olateru-Olagbegi
Unknown to many of her fans, erstwhile rapper, Modupe-Oreoluwa Olateru-Olagbegi, a.k.a Mo’Cheddah, had secret battles with depression and suicidal thoughts when she was fully involved in music.
The 34-year-old lifestyle content creator claims haters nearly drove her into committing suicide. The plain truth was that some of her older colleagues despised and hated her for her talent. According to her, the bitterness was choking and felt even worse after she emerged winner of a Channel O music award.
She recalled never knowing what hatred felt like until she came into the music industry as she was really hated by her much older colleagues, especially after she won a Channel O music award.
“The industry was hostile. I would be performing and they would turn off my microphone because the A-list artist didn’t like me. I didn’t get it, I didn’t know there was hatred… I never knew how it felt to be hated so much. How do I meet a legend and I kneel down to say hi to her and she is like ‘Get off me.’ This was a woman I had looked up to for years. The industry was hostile. I felt as if I had failed, especially because I had thought that business would pick up. They had so much hate for me. They started bad-mouthing me to people, to companies and producers. So, I was kind of blacklisted. Nobody wanted to work with me because they hated me and they wanted to do everything in their power to ruin me and I felt God had forsaken me, sadness consumed me,” she recalled.
She revealed how she almost took her life, but had to stop because she knew her death would terribly affect her boyfriend, who is now her husband.
“At first, I didn’t know how to kill myself. I thought about it many times. I thought of drowning myself in the lagoon. I wanted my death to be quick. I prayed that God would just kill me,” she said.
Anita Asuoha
Comedienne and actress, Anita Asuoha, a.k.a Real Warri Pikin, also, nearly committed suicide over a debt of N22 million. She recalled how, while having a financial challenge, a motivational speaker who had an encounter with her husband convinced him to try several businesses. Spurred by the advice, she said her husband tried several ventures to pursue financial success, but the attempt landed the family into N22 million debt.
“I tried suicide in 2018, June 6, 3 pm to be precise. I attempted suicide, I gave up on life because the burden was too much. Life was hitting me left, right and centre and I felt the only way to escape was to end my life,” she recounted.
She also revealed that she was taken to three different hospitals before she regained consciousness after attempting to take her life. She said the aftermath of her suicide attempt inspired her to venture into comedy, so she could use her story to help other people in her position to find healing.
Adunni Ade
Nollywood actress, Adunni Ade, also contemplated suicide in the past. She revealed that she was so depressed when she left the father of her children that she thought of committing suicide.
She said, “I think the major thing that got me through was the fear that somebody else would raise my children. That was the scariest thing for me, that my kids would see somebody else as their mother. Depression is no joke. A lot of people in this country don’t want to admit that depression is an illness. People don’t know the extent to which it affects the mind. A lot of people know this. I think God loves me enough to still keep me here.”
Farida Abdulkabir
Socialite and beauty entrepreneur, Farida Abdulkabir tried to commit suicide in 2023. Fortunately she was prevented from doing so by passersby on Third Mainland Bridge. Farida, who is the founder of House of Phreedah, a skincare company, had packed her Lexus SUV on the bridge and attempted to jump into the lagoon. She wanted to end it all after her less than three months luxury wedding, which she funded to the tune of N100 million, came crashing like a pack of badly arranged cards. Coupled with the fact that after the marriage collapsed, her estranged husband, Ademola Okulaja, an ex-convict and her off and on boyfriend began bad mouthing her with falsehood. This became too unbearable for her and she decided to end it all.
Eva Alordiah
While celebrating her 31st birthday a few years ago, former rapper, Elohor Eva Alordiah, revealed how she suffered depression and almost took her own life. She said it took her a ‘long walk’ to get out of that feeling. From almost taking her own life, the 34 year-old now lives her life with a single mission to help others live theirs better.
Tunji Balogun
Tunji Balogun, aka Teebillz, the estranged husband of music star, Tiwa Savage, has had to deal with mental illness from sufferring bouts of depression and even attempted suicide when his three-year marriage to the singer crashed. Shortly before his suicide attempt, he had gone on a media rant about how his estranged wife had cheated on him and how diabolical her mother is. Shortly after the social media meltdown, he tried to jump into the Lagos lagoon but was luckily, rescued by his friend, Bankole Wellington, a.k.a Banky W.
Toke Makinwa
Media personality, Toke Makinwa who lost her biological parents in a fire accident once recounted how she attempted suicide after her marriage to fitness expert, Maje Ayida hit the rocks. According to her, she suffered from depression and lost hope of living. And while sitting in her bedroom one day, a very strong feeling of hopelessness overcame her, causing her to reach for a bottle of Dettol to drink, die and avoid the shame and ridicule of being married to a perennial cheat who fathered a child with one of his side-chics.
Tonto Dikeh
Controversial ex-Nollywood actress and aspiring politician, Tonto Dikeh, once attempted suicide and it was shortly after her ill-fated drama filled marriage to businessman, Olakunle Churchill hit the rocks. She claimed to have suffered from depression and almost took her life as a result of it. She recalled enrolling in a depression class to enable her to get out of the foul mood and learn to speak positively over her life.
Julius Agwu
Comedian and actor, Julius Agwu, who suffered from brain tumour disclosed that the experience after discovering he had the disease was not wonderful at all. After he discovered he had brain tumour, all he wanted to do was to commit suicide while he searched for the documents of his property to give to his wife as he prepared for death. Although he has since recovered from the disease, his marriage which produced two children has unfortunately broken down and his wife has since moved on.
Practical ways to prevent suicide
Besides the fact that suicide is a sin in the sight of God, the Criminal Code Act in the South of Nigeria and the Penal Code in the North of Nigeria both regard those who attempt to end their own lives as offenders in the misdemeanour category. Section 327 of the Criminal Code states: “Any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year.”
Section 231 of the Penal Code states: “Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both”.
Suicide is preventable and below are practicable ways to prevent suicide:
1. Encourage open conversations with people who aren’t judgemental. It can reduce the stigma and help individuals seek support.
2. Recognise warning signs like withdrawal, changes in behaviour, mood swings, or talking about feeling hopeless. Early detection can lead to timely intervention.
3. Promote mental health education by spreading awareness about mental health issues and suicide prevention. Teach people how to manage stress and seek help when needed.
4. Limit access to harmful tools that could be used for self-harm, such as firearms, medication, or toxic substances, to lower the risk of impulsive acts.
5. Seek professional help through therapists and counsellors. Therapy and medication can help manage underlying issues like depression or anxiety.
6. Stay connected to friends, family, or colleagues. Strong social connections provide emotional support and help one feel less alone.
7. Stay healthy physically and mentally by indulging in healthy lifestyle choices, such as regular physical activity, balanced diets, adequate sleep, and mindfulness practices, which can improve overall mental health.
8. Stay informed by continually learning about suicide prevention strategies and mental health resources. Education empowers one to take the right action when needed.
9. Acknowledge the complexity of suicide and there may not be a clear answer or reason for why one feels the way he/she feels.
10. Young people in particular should develop personal resilience like building life skills, improving self-esteem, developing problem-solving skills, embracing realistic optimism and even using spirituality.
#If you are feeling depressed or having suicidal thoughts, please seek help by contacting your doctor or call for help on 112. It is toll-free, 24/7.
