25-year-old Joseph Abodunrin from Osogbo, Nigeria, posted what would become his final message online. “Nothing much to say again… My passwords are in the first page of my diary. Goodbye!” he wrote, pairing the note with a selfie showing him wearing headphones and a noose around his neck.
Joseph followed through on the post amid what his family described as prolonged economic hardship and a decline in mental health. His sister had earlier appealed for help online, hoping someone could intervene before it was too late. When news of his death was confirmed, the post had already reached millions of views, turning a private tragedy into a public reckoning.
The comments that followed were a mix of grief, anger, and reflection. Many urged people to take warning signs seriously and to check on friends who seemed withdrawn or hopeless. Others highlighted the daily survival struggles facing young Nigerians: unemployment, inflation, and the feeling that effort leads nowhere. For some, Joseph’s death became a symbol of a system that leaves too many people to suffer in silence.
The question that keeps resurfacing is who bears responsibility. Was it the failure of a government that has struggled to create jobs and support mental health services? Or was it the isolation of a young man who cried for months and days without getting the help he needed? In reality, it’s rarely one or the other. Suicide is the result of intersecting pressures—personal pain, lack of access to care, stigma around mental illness, and economic instability that makes the future feel out of reach.
Nigeria still has limited mental health infrastructure. According to the World Health Organization, the country has fewer than 1 psychiatrist per 100,000 people, and many cannot afford private care. At the same time, conversations about mental health are slowly opening up on social media, where young Nigerians share experiences that older generations often dismissed as “spiritual” or “weakness.”
Joseph’s story has pushed more people to talk. Replies to his post included hotlines, messages of support, and calls for communities to act before it’s too late. The key lesson is early intervention: noticing changes in mood, listening without judgment, and connecting people to help, whether that’s a trusted friend, a counselor, or a crisis line.
His last tweet was:
I’m sorry I failed you guys, I couldn’t just do it anymore… No matter how I explain it. You won’t understand!!!
I hope y’all find it in you to keep fighting, hopeful, never negotiating your dreams and to finally and eventually thrive.
That is my last wish.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In Nigeria, you can contact the Suicide Prevention and Counseling Center at 09030000009 or 09099901. You can also reach out to trusted friends, family, or local health clinics…See More
