Suicide rates surge: Mental health experts sound alarm, demand urgent action

The chief executive officer of the Mental Health Authority (MHA), Prof. Pinaman Appau, has urged open and non-judgemental conversations to tackle the rising suicide rates in Ghana. 

Her remarks follow alarming data revealing that 81 people have died by suicide in the first half of 2024, with more than 500 suicide attempts recorded over the same period. 

This marks a sharp increase compared to the entirety of 2023, which saw 48 deaths and 594 attempts.

Speaking at the 2024 World Suicide Prevention Day Forum on Tuesday (10 September) at the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) Auditorium in Accra, Prof Appau stressed the importance of addressing the issue head-on. 

“Let us move from silence to open dialogue, from stigma to understanding, and from despair to hope,” she said.

“Every conversation we have and every hand we extend in support devoid of judgement and reproach brings us closer to a Ghana where suicide is no longer a silent crisis.”

Prof Joseph Osafo, a clinical psychologist and suicidologist who chaired the forum, called for the establishment of a comprehensive national suicide prevention policy. 

He highlighted the need for this policy to go beyond the recent decriminalisation of suicide and include robust programmes for prevention and intervention.

“We need to roll out what we call national suicide prevention policy or programme,” said Prof. Osafo.

“This will include rolling out programmes on surveillance so we are able to know who [is] at risk in which enclaves, which community, which region [and] which district.”

“We want to train people who will have the skills to go to various areas and work with persons who are suicidal.”

Prof Osafo also pointed to various factors contributing to the surge in suicides, including academic pressures, mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, family conflicts, bullying, loneliness, and chronic illness. 

He emphasised the importance of targeted interventions, particularly in schools and among vulnerable groups like the elderly and working-class adults.

Reporting by Elizabeth Yeboah Akyemaa

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