Suicide: What is ailing Kenya’s young people?

Dr Catherine Syengo Mutisya, a Consultant Psychiatrist and Deputy Medical Superintendent at Mathari Hospital, Nairobi in a session. PHOTO: BRIGID CHEMWENO

NAIROBI: When a ten-year-old pupil at DEB Karatina Primary School in Nyeri County, committed suicide recently by hanging himself over homework, the populace reeled in shock with one question on their minds; what prompted a minor to commit the unthinkable?

It is alleged the boy quarrelled with his mother over homework before he excused himself, went and picked a rope from their house and hanged himself on an avocado tree planted outside their home.