Mental illness and suicidal thoughts can affect anyone, of any age, from any background, at any time.

Similar to physical illnesses, people do not choose to have mental health problems and need the appropriate care to get better.

On Monday, police revealed some chilling statistics on the number of people who have taken their own lives so far this year.

According to police, 129 people are reported to have committed suicide in the first three months of 2019, a 42 percent increase from the same period last year, when 94 suicide cases were recorded.

National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the statistics were worrying and showed that many people were suffering from social problems.

“Between January and March in 2018, a total of 94 people are recorded to have committed suicide. Of that figure, 74 people took their lives by hanging, while 20 ended their lives by poisoning with substances such as pesticides and overdosing medication.

In 2019, the figures of people who committed suicide ballooned to 129, with 87 people ending their existence on earth by hanging, while 42 people committed suicide by poisoning with drugs and other poisonous substances,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.State media