Quick steps to follow when you are experiencing suicidal thoughts

Many people experience depression from time to time, and this leads to suicidal thoughts. In Ghana, the total suicide rate is at 5.4%, representing 1,607 deaths per year, as reported by the World Population Review.

The increasing day to day pressure in education, work and personal life often increases stress and depression in people. The inability to confide in others in solving life problems, the dwindling number of psychologists, the stigma related to seeing a mental health specialist, poverty and the lack of adequate safe spaces, within the country are contributing factors to the high prevalence of suicide-related deaths.

Psychologists have said it is important for one to check up on relatives, peers, and co-workers, as there is a dead giveaway in the behavior of people having suicidal thoughts.

Some warning signs of suicide include; excessive sadness, sudden withdrawal from social activities, changes in personality and personal appearance, self-harming behavior, and clues of suicide thoughts on social media pages.

Seek professional help

If you have suicidal thoughts, it is extremely important for you to know that you are not alone. Life gets everybody on their knees sometimes, but it is the ability to stand tall, and choose to keep living that sets you apart.

One of the ways to stand tall is to have coping mechanisms when the thoughts of suicide flood your mind.

There are effective mental health and wellness centers in the country like, LifeWellness Wholistic Center, Claron Health International, and Marie Stopes International Ghana. Psychologists are in a better position to help you deal with your problem; as they would understand its core and provide solutions.

Call a suicide hotline

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the CEO of Mental Health Authority said there are discussions with mobile telecom networks to create a permanent toll free suicide hotline. However, 020-681-4666 is an available suicide hotline for you.

The call receivers can help calm your nerves, and provide practical solutions to help you out of that mental state.

Avoid drugs and alcohol

According to a research by Sara Markowitz, a professor at Emory University who specializes in the economics of healthy and unhealthy behaviors’ writing in Substance Use and Suicidal Behaviors among Young Adults, Substance abuse can cause social isolation, low self-esteem, loss of work or school, estrangement from family and friends - all events that can build a core of stresses that may lead to suicidal tendencies.



Substance abuse also can increase impulsiveness and decrease inhibitions, making one more likely to act on suicidal tendencies. Therefore, it is important to stay away from drugs and alcohol as they put you in a vulnerable state, and increases chances of suicide.

Problem-solving therapy

American Psychological Association defines Problem-solving therapy as a cognitive-behavioral intervention that is focused on improving an individual's ability to cope with stressful life experiences.

It helps individuals to adopt a realistically optimistic view of coping, understanding the role of emotions more effectively, and creatively developing an action plan geared to reduce psychological distress and enhance well-being.

Sometimes, depression is the result of certain problems in life that we see no solutions to. You should engage in problem-solving therapy; which also equips you with problem-solving skills. It is necessary because people fall into depression because of existing problems in their personal lives, and once the skills to solving that problem is harnessed, their likelihood of falling into depression is low.

The randomized controlled trial, funded by ACC, looked at 1094 people who presented to emergency departments between September 2005 and June 2008 at four district health boards (DHBs) in New Zealand.

The findings by the ACC showed that all people who received problem-solving therapy reported greater improvements in depression, hopelessness, suicidal thinking, and problem-solving skills than people who received usual care alone.