Lesotho, has recently been thrust into the global spotlight due to its alarming rise in suicide rates, which have now become the highest in the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This surge has raised significant concerns about the mental health crisis gripping the nation, where socio-economic challenges, high rates of unemployment, poverty and the lingering effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic have created a dire situation for many citizens.

The WHO reports that an alarming 87.5 people per 100,000 of Lesotho’s population take their own lives each year; more than double the rate of the next highest country, Guyana in South America, which sees just over 40 suicides per 100,000 people whilst the global average suicide rate stands at only 9 per 100,000 people. To further unpack we talk to Felleng Lethola, Senior Psycho Social support and Capacity Building  Officer at Help Lesotho and Patience Masupha, Suicide attempt survivor