Number Of Refugee Suicide Attempts Concerns Manus Police

Manus Island police are concerned about the number of suicide attempts among refugees.

This is published in Manus’ Post Courier –

Manus police have expressed concern over the number of attempted suicide cases mainly among refugees in the province.

Provincial police commander chief inspector David Yapu said so far there were three reports of refugees committing suicide. Mr Yapu described as a worrying situation.

Mr Yapu wants the PNG and Australia governments to look into the refugees’ situation and address the issue otherwise more deaths would be expected through suicides.

He said this after receiving reports of three more suicide attempts, two of them involving refugees and the third a local man.

Mr Yapu said last month, a refugee from Iran poured a plastic container of petrol over his body and attempted to set himself on fire at the east Lorengau refugee transit centre.

He said the refugee’s roommate saved him by kicking the gas lighter and a rag from his hands moments before he was able to set himself on fire.

In the latest incident on September 11, a security guard disturbed another refugee from Iran, who was about to hang himself with a rope at the refugee transit centre. Mr Yapu said both were taken to the clinic and were confirmed to have mental illness. Arrangements have now been made to refer them to Pacific International Hospital. In the final incident, a local man in Lorengau town locked himself in his room and tried to stab himself on his chest with a knife when his wife alerted police who prevented him from doing so. He was later taken to Lorengau General Hospital.