Posting your problems on social media is dangerous - Psychologist

A Clinical Psychologist at the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, has advised the general public, especially women who are depressed, to desist from posting on social media the challenges they are facing in life, warning such acts have high suicide tendencies.

Dr Mary Akua Ampomah explained that people on social media are not ethically-bound and do not attach any confidentiality or privacy even in their attempt to help the depressed.

She added that majority of the people, who comment on such posts, are not trained professionals and, therefore, end up making sarcastic comments which turn out to worsen the plight of the depressed.

Consequently, she advised all individuals going through any form of depression to only seek help from professionals to safeguard the confidentiality of whatever they may be going through.

Dr Ampomah attributed the recent rampant suicide incidences to stigmatization, as she called for the need for people to embrace and support mental health. She stated that 93-95 percent of all suicide cases and attempted suicides are from mental disorders with over 80 percent of them from depression.

"We make it difficult for people to admit they are depressed when we stigmatise against them. When we do that they would rather be isolated, withdrawn and go ahead with what they have in mind doing," she stressed.

She was speaking to The Finder on the sidelines of a seminar organised by Loyal Ladies of the New Patriotic Party on Saturday (NPP) to educate the public on stress management.

The seminar climaxes the one year anniversary celebrations of the group.

Perpetual Lomokie Akwada, President of the NPP Loyal Ladies, said the seminar titled ‘Depression and its dangers’ sought to provide the public education on stress management.