The Executive Director of Guidance, Counselling and Youth Development Centre for Africa, Deborah Matope, says early intervention and timely access to mental health care are critical to curbing suicide cases.
Matope said this in Lilongwe on Tuesday during a two-day Mental Health Facilitation Training.
She urged people to seek help early, saying early detection and psychosocial support can save lives.
Senior Director of Global Capacity Building at the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and Affiliates, Wendi Schweiger-Moore, said training more people to identify early warning signs of distress could help reduce stigma and improve access to mental health services.
Schweiger-Moore said NBCC was committed to working with local organisations in Malawi to help prevent suicide linked to depression.
President of the Malawi Association of Counselling, Dominic Ndona, urged Malawians to break the stigma surrounding mental health conditions and seek professional help when needed.
A participant in the training, Reverend Joseph Nkhoma of Nsalu CCAP, who is also a therapist, called for greater involvement of faith communities and grassroots institutions in creating safe spaces where people can discuss mental health challenges without fear of judgement.
The training brought together counsellors, health workers, social workers and international mental health advocates to discuss causes of psychological distress, including economic pressure, social isolation and unmanaged trauma.
By Bridget Makawa
