Windhoek: The President of Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has expressed shock and surprise over recent Namibian suicide statistics from the Namibian Police Force (NamPol). The president was speaking during her address to public servants in Windhoek on Friday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the president was reacting to a story recently published by Nampa titled 'Understanding Namibia's alarming suicide rate surge,' diving deep into Namibia's suicide statistics from the first three months of 2025. Between January and March this year, 124 people died by suicide in Namibia, with 108 of these being men. "I was listening to the police records, or I read it in the newspapers, as to how many people who committed suicide from January [to March]. It's a surprise. It's a shock. And they are saying the cause is mental health," she expressed.

Mental health professionals link most mental health issues to suicide cases. Looking at how people are going through a lot, Nandi-Ndaitwah urged public officials to treat people in a manner that does not worsen the situations they are encountering when they approach their offices for services. "We have our people who are so desperate because of the situation surrounding them. When they are coming to seek services, please don't worsen their situation," she stressed.

"And if a person comes to our offices trying to get information, and you did not treat the person properly, that's what could trigger the frustration in that person's mind. And then mental health becomes a problem in our country," the president noted. She instead advocated for public servants to take time and listen to people, as it helps boost their confidence, turning them into innovative and productive citizens, contributing to the socioeconomic development of the nation.

"When they are coming to seek services, just listen to them. Give them those five minutes, even if you might not solve the problem at that particular time. The point that they feel listened to matters to them. And it gives them confidence," she encouraged.