World Suicide Prevention Day: 543 suicide attempts and 81 deaths recorded in 1st half of the year

At age 16, Joseph Osarfo Adu found himself at the brink of despair. After battling a chronic illness for over a year, he believed death was his only escape.

Suicide became a real and dangerous consideration. In his darkest moments, Joseph almost gave up. But at 17, he fought back and overcame the temptation to end his life.

Now, at 57, Professor Joseph Osarfo Adu is not only a clinical psychologist but also a suicidologist, a man whose life’s work is to save others from the hole he once stood on the edge of.

But, for many in Ghana, that hope is slipping away. Suicide rates are rising at an alarming rate. In just the first half of 2024, 543 suicide attempts and 81 deaths were recorded surpassing the totals for all of 2023. The majority of these victims are young people, just like Joseph was when he almost lost his battle. The Greater Accra, Eastern, and Central regions have seen the highest rates of these tragedies.

Madam Estelle Appiah, Board Chair of the Mental Health Authority, expressed deep concern over the rising numbers. “We need to act now,” she urged. “Talking about suicide doesn’t encourage the act, it saves lives.”

As the world observes Suicide Prevention Day today, Joseph and mental health advocates across the nation emphasize the importance of breaking the silence around mental health and suicide. The theme for this year, “Changing the Narrative,” is a call to action, an appeal for more open conversations about mental health in homes, schools, offices, and communities.

For Professor Osarfo Adu, his mission goes beyond treatment. He is an advocate for mental health reform in Ghana, where suicide is still shrouded in stigma and silence.

“We need to create safe spaces for people to talk about their struggles, without judgment,” he says. “It’s time for Ghana to make mental health a national priority.”

The Mental Health Authority is encouraging everyone to be vigilant, offer support, and, most importantly, listen. With more open dialogue and less stigma, Ghana can change the narrative and save lives.

As the statistics rise, so must the voices calling for change.

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World Suicide Prevention Day: Greater Accra, Eastern, Central regions record highest suicide attempts in 1st half of 2024

 

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