SUVA, Fiji Islands (January 3, 2002 - Sun/PINA Nius Online)---Fiji Police Commissioner Isikia Savua has recommended that the country’s growing suicide problem be looked after by a specific government department.
While commending the work of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Center in taking the initiative by setting up a suicide help-line, Mr. Savua said this is not enough.
In the 10 years between 1992 and 2001, 931 people died in Fiji as a result of suicides.
Out of the 243 cases reported to the police last year, 114 were suicides and 129 were attempts.
By race, Indo-Fijians recorded the highest number of cases at 214, or 88 percent of all suicide cases.
Mr. Savua said the police received F$ 250,000 (US$ 107,875) in the 2002 Budget for road accident programs but no money for suicide prevention.
He said a government department should be given this role so victims could see there is somewhere out there in the community they can go to for help.
...