HGC Provides Suicide Prevention Training to Nigeria Humanist Hotline

Humanist Global Charity provided Suicide Prevention training to Saliu Olumide Saheed, the director of the HGC Hotline, in Minnah, Nigeria. We commissioned Pete Humphrey, a San Francisco-based suicide prevention counselor, to deliver 4 hours of training. Below is the report of this productive exchange:

REPORT ON SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING WITH PETE HUMPHREY

DURATION: TWO WEEKS SETTINGS: WHATSAPP

MODE: VOICE CALLS FACILITATOR: PETE HUMPHREY

SUMMARY

After the recommendation by Hank to undertake the training, I set out to familiarize myself with the tutor Mr. Pete Humphrey on his mails. The formalities was done very fast and we concluded on having the class on a Sunday at 6 or 7pm Nigerian time and 9 or 10am California time. We had the two sessions over voice calls that span at least two hours for both sessions that we had. We discussed the whole concepts of suicide, causes of suicide, inter culturally between our two countries. We further went on to discuss the popular method of committing suicide and the mode of prevention across the two nationalities.

SESSION ONE

On 15 th November, 2020, we had our first session and discussed about Nigeria, her culture, tribe and socio-political problems. We then move on to discuss suicide in general and Pete mentioned the fact that all kind of suicide regardless of their causes are caused by two major factors. Namely, Isolation and the total loss of sense of belonging. He further went on to discuss what he does as a counselor at San Francisco Suicide Prevention Centre. He asked me to tell him what I do as a helpline operator for humanist Nigeria and what challenges I had had when doing what it is, that I do. I recounted telling him that the major and the most pertinent problem I had was getting across to people and raising awareness about suicide in places where the internet, especially social media is not easily accessible. These people are human too, they fall into despair, and are as well vulnerable in the face of life trials. We deliberated methods we can initiate to solve this problem and Pete asked me to check up a novel initiative founded in Zimbabwe to address the mental health issues occurring in the country called “The Friendship Bench”. We closed our session for the day and agreed to finish our class the next week.

SESSION TWO

After fixing our regular meeting for the same time, we had our first session. The second session took place on 29 th November, 2020. We started by doing a little bit of a recap and question and answer segment. After which we talked extensively about the previously mentioned Friendship Bench and how it can be replicated in Nigeria. I highlighted the fact that it’s going to be a problematic project as Nigerians do not readily trust strangers with their problems. We both agreed there is going to be language barrier while I also pointed out that visitors who will be volunteering for this project and go into these rural villages might be extorted by the ruling power according the ridiculous norms in Nigerian local settlements.

After that, Pete asked about some of my experiences and the real life situations I have been able to tackle as an operator of the humanist helpline. He then went on to discuss some of his while also taking me on the various risk assessment level involved in suicide prevention and how to tackle each of these stages. Finally he asked me what my plans for the future are. And I told him I wanted to rebrand real big. Have a blog, a podcast, and circulate a pamphlets dealing with how to prevent suicide as well as what people can do, when they have left their religion. He wished me well, I wished him the same and we closed the end of the class.

CLOSING REMARKS

I am deeply grateful to Hank and Pete for granting me this wonderful opportunity. The session has made me see the whole business of helping people in their most delicate time in another new light and I have resolved, no doubt to put these new profound and insightful knowledge into use. Next year is another opportunity to start afresh and conquer new waters.