Suicide: Cleric urges leaders to teach message of hope

Rev. Adedoyin Adeyinka of House of Truth Church, Abuja has urged religious leaders to intensify efforts in teaching messages of hope to console Nigerians living with depression. Adeyinka stated this during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, following reported cases of suicide across the country. No fewer than three […]

Rev. Adedoyin Adeyinka of House of Truth Church, Abuja has urged religious leaders to intensify efforts in teaching messages of hope to console Nigerians living with depression.

Adeyinka stated this during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, following reported cases of suicide across the country.

No fewer than three Nigerians committed suicide, recently including Chukwuemeka Akachi, a 400-level student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Michael Arowosaiye, a Gospel Singer at the Shepherd House Church as well as MC Mormor.

The cleric told NAN that the high rates of suicide could be traced to depression due to the fact that many people in the country are living under pressure.

“There is no normal person who will think of committing suicide as a way out of any challenge.”

Adeyinka said that the thought of hopelessness which has been sown in the hearts of men influence their decision.

“The devil sells the message of hopelessness to people, convincing them that the matter at hand is ended and nothing can be done to save the situation.

“When we have put the sense of finality to a problem, it seems there is no way out and that is the end; that means nothing else can be added or taken away.

”Believe me, when people get to that point where they put a point of finality and hopelessness to situations and out of desperation they commit suicide.

“This tells us that we have work to do as a church of God, it is time for the church to wake up to its responsibility to give hope to the people.’’

Adeyinka said that religious leaders should teach contentment and educate their congregations on how to get out of depression.

“Various religious leaders have to emphasis on the teaching of patience; tell people how to undergo worrisome situations and the end result will give glory to God.

“Many people were living fake lives and financial, health and social problems have brought a lot of pressure on parents”.

According to him, all these have resulted in a lot of parents spending less time with their children because of the pressure to provide for the home.

“Most parent have forced the children to grow above their age by leaving them with a lot of responsibility and by so doing a lot of children have learnt to share in the pressure of the parents.”

The cleric urged Nigerians to live a life of worship and thanksgiving to God believing that by faith, all their problems could be solved.

“The power of God can handle any challenge be it financial, marital, social and emotional challenges, only if the person can believe,” Adeyinka said. (NAN)