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THE husband of a woman who took her own life at Havana in Windhoek on last week Saturday says he cannot believe his wife is gone.

This is despite Hilda Hamanyala surviving four previous attempts to take her life.

Efraim Hamanyala says his wife often contemplated taking her life while under the influence of alcohol.

“The reason we did not look for help was because she always promised she would not do it again. Every time she tried to take her life while under the influence, and in the morning she would be shocked when we tell her what she tried to do,” Hamanyala says.

He says his wife loved joking about everything.

Khomas police spokesperson warrant officer Silas Shipandeni says Hilda attempted to take her life twice in 2021, but her 18-year-old son, Sadrag Luwaya, rescued her.

“During 2022, she again attempted to commit suicide, and her son rescued her again, which amounts to a total of four suicide attempts, but unfortunately this is the fifth time, and she didn’t make it,” Shipandeni says.

The Namibian could not get hold of Luwaya, but spoke to Hilda’s daughter, Tuli Haufiku, who says her mother’s death came as a shock.

“She told me she wanted to commit suicide. I asked her why, and she said it was because both her parents are dead, and she had problems. I told her she should not, as we, her children and grandchildren, need her, and she agreed,” Haufiku says.

The current national statistics indicate that from January 2021 until July 2022 a total of 790 Namibians have taken their lives.

Out of this number, 649 were men, 102 were women, and 39 were children.

Out of the total number, 124 victims were from the Omusati region, of which 99 were men, 19 women, and six children.

Deputy minister of health and social services Esther Muinjangue says these statistics are alarming.

She encouraged the nation not to lose hope.

“I encourage all of us to be that hope in the circles we move, and to encourage ourselves, family members, friends, and colleagues at work to seek professional help.

“I believe that when we as a community stand together to create that hope, we can certainly prevent suicide” she says.

Muinjangue says people should not be ashamed to talk about their feelings.