Psychiatric patient commits suicide in Calabar

                                                  Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar

A mentally unstable person, Joel Uduak, has committed suicide by hanging himself at the Federal Psychiatric Hospital in Calabar, Cross River State.

The incident, which happened around 2am on Sunday, allegedly took the medical staff by surprise as the hospital had ensured that its structures were built to make suicide impossible.

A source, who craved anonymity, said Uduak quietly left his room to commit suicide without suspicion from his roommates.

The source said Uduak, who was in his late 20s had been an out-patient until he was admitted three weeks ago when his situation became critical.

She said, “The guy was an intelligent patient. He did not give any sign that he was going to commit suicide as others do by expressing frustration.

“He tactically left his room around 2am when others were still asleep and went to the bathroom where he found a way of using his bed sheet to strangulate himself despite measures put in place to discourage that.

“For instance, the bathroom widows are very low and there are not steel showers, but this man still found a way to use the window.

“He is not a new patient. He’s been on and off, but only admitted three weeks ago when his situation became worse.”

Confirming the report to Us on Monday, the Head of Clinical Services Department of the hospital, Dr. Essien Ekpe, said the patient’s action took everyone by surprise as he did not show any sign that he was overwhelmed by his ailment.

Although Ekpe said it was the second suicide ever recorded in the hospital since it became a federal institution in 1995, he added that Uduak was very skilful in the manner in which he committed the suicide.

He said, “This man collected his medication. He related with other inmates very well. We felt he was getting ready for discharge.

“Usually, when we suspect that a patient is showing signs of depression, we normally put such patient on surveillance and every movement is monitored. But Uduak did not display those tendencies.

“He was already asleep as at light out which is normally 12.30am but sneaked out of the room. The doctor only confirmed around 2am that he was dead when an inmate that went to ease himself raised the alarm.”