'Drastic rise' in Malawi's suicide rate linked to Covid economic downturn

Lack of specialist support and growing unemployment are factors in growing mental health crisis, doctors say

One Tuesday morning in March, 48-year-old farmer Lokoliyo Bwanali set off for his maize plot. He never came back. Neighbours discovered his body later in the small field where he had poisoned himself.

The wife of the deceased said her late husband was under pressure from creditors and was failing to settle his debts," said Edward Kabango, from Malawi's Dedza district police department. The deceased left his home without explaining to his family members where he was heading until he was later found lying dead in a field, a kilometre from his home."