World Suicide Prevention Day: Let's normalise seeing psychotherapists - Atik Mohammed advises Ghanaians
Atik Mohammed is a political analyst
Political analyst, Atik Mohammed, has charged the nation to normalize the practice of consulting psychotherapists to prevent suicide attempts and other mental-related issues.
Tuesday, September 10, 2024, marked World Suicide Prevention Day to raise awareness about the prevention of suicide globally.
Every year, over 700,000 people take their own life and there are many more people who make suicide attempts, according to a research.
Discussing this on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Atik called on government and the citizenry to take mental health issues seriously.
He encouraged people to visit therapists, stressing seeing a therapist when one is depressed or faces a traumatic situation is a significant factor in the prevention of suicide.
"We need rehabilitation centres; it's very important. Every hospital, district, in fact even CHPS at some point, we should have some therapists there...Let's normalize the practice of seeing psychologists, therapits and so on. It will help us a lot," he stated.
Ghana is ranked 64th on the list of countries by suicide rate and over 500 people have reportedly attempted suicide in the country in 2024.
Eighty-one Ghanaians are estimated to have died by suicide as at June 30, 2024.
