Education on suicide intensified as Ghana records 14 cases in three months

The increasing spate of young people committing suicide has compelled the Ashanti Regional Mental Health Directorate to intensify public education to support individuals opting for suicide as to end their challenges in life.

Available statistics show 68 persons, comprising 28 males and 40 females, attempted suicide in Ashanti region in 2016. The directorate describes as unacceptable, the tendency for people to end their lives instead of confronting their challenges and seeking help.

Regional Coordinator of Mental Health, Faustina Nyarko, said 14 suicide cases have been recorded in Ghana since the beginning of the year. She is particularly worried that at the number of young people on the list, describing the trend as scary and disturbing.

“Last week, eight persons committed suicide in various part of the country and it was disheartening to see a 10-year old child and university students ending their lives without any substantial reason,” she observed.

Sensitizing residents of Beposo in the Sekyere Central District, Ms. Nyarko pleaded with parents to be responsible and indulge their children in communication to better understand their problems.

Globally, one person commits suicide every 40 seconds, which translates into 800,000 suicides every year. Ms. Faustina has appealed to the public to be each other’s keeper to support depressed individuals from committing suicide.