Ghana lost 81 lives to suicide in first half of 2024

Ghana lost 81 lives to suicide in the first half of this year, with more than 500 attempted suicides over the same period.

These statistics, according to the Board Chairman of the Mental Health Authority (MHA), Estelle Appiah, were alarming when compared to the total recorded for the entire 2023, which was 48 completed suicides and 594 suicide attempts.

“You can see the numbers are increasing. Suicide is a very serious problem that requires a serious public health approach for prevention,” she stressed.

Ms Appiah, who said this yesterday at the 2024 World Suicide Prevention Day Commemoration Forum in Accra, further disclosed that men formed the majority of completed suicides.

Suicide

Suicide is when people harm themselves with the intent of ending their lives and they die as a result. A suicide attempt is when people harm themselves with the intent of ending their lives but they do not die.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 720,000 people take their own lives every year and a majority, that is about 73 per cent are in low and middle-income countries such as Ghana.

Ghana has designated September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with the theme for this year as “Changing the narrative on suicide” and a call to action, “Start the Conversation”. 

Risk factors

Ms Appiah mentioned the risk factors for suicide to include a previous attempt, mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, gambling, financial and job crisis, chronic illness and pain, criminal or legal issues and impulsive behaviour.

Complaining about the fact that prevention of suicide had not been adequately tackled over the years due to the lack of awareness and it being a taboo in society, she called for a collaborative multi-sectoral effort by the health sector and others, such as security, education, legal and the media to help fight the menace.

She pointed out that stigma, particularly surrounding mental illness and suicide, made it difficult for many people to think of taking their own lives or those who had attempted suicide to speak up and seek help.

Commending Parliament for the enactment of the Criminal Offences Amendment Act 2023  (1092), which decriminalises suicide, Ms Appiah pointed out that unfortunately, the language used for the amendment was technically incorrect.

Suicide effects

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the MHA, Professor Pinaman Appau, said the effects and implications of suicide on society were profound and farreaching with each life lost to suicide, not only a personal tragedy but a loss to families, communities and the nation as a whole.

She said suicide left behind a trail of grief, guilt and unanswered questions, adding that the economic cost of suicide and suicide attempts in terms of healthcare expenses and loss of productivity placed an additional burden on the already strained resources.

She underscored the need for increased advocacy for mental health education, as well as its integration into school curricula, increased access to mental health services, promotion of community-based support initiatives, development of targeted interventions for high-risk groups.

The Deputy Chief of Staff (Medical) at the General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, Major General R. K. Ewusie, said service personnel, including the Military, Police, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons, were often exposed to potentially traumatic effects which further exposed them to psychological trauma that increased their risk of mental health difficulties, including ending lives by suicide.

Other speakers at the event, which was largely attended by members of the security services were Dr John-Deigo Koso, Dr Erica Danfrekua Dickson and Dr Richard Dei-Asamoa.