Gaps in Suicide Data Hinder Prevention Efforts in Ghana

Accra: Gaps in Ghana's suicide reporting system are hindering efforts to accurately determine the scale and patterns of suicide in the country. According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Kwadwo Marfo Obeng, Medical Director of Accra Psychiatric Hospital, highlighted issues such as stigma, fragmented data sources, and weaknesses in death certification as significant barriers affecting the quality of suicide statistics. These statistics are crucial for guiding prevention interventions. Dr. Obeng made these observations during the launch of the National Suicide Situational Report, Media Reporting Guidelines, and Scorecard for Ghana in Accra, commemorating World Suicide Prevention Day. He noted that although suicide was decriminalised in Ghana in 2023, the remnants of its prior criminalisation still influence how cases are reported by families, health professionals, and other stakeholders. The report aimed to establish the country's current epidemiological profile, identify key risk and protective factors, map existin g policies and services, and provide a basis for developing a national suicide prevention strategy. The research involved a detailed review of policies and documents, stakeholder questionnaires, interviews, and a validation meeting. Dr. Obeng explained that Ghana relies on four major sources for suicide data: the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS), the Births and Deaths Registry, police data, and research. However, each of these sources has limitations, leading to significant gaps in the national understanding of suicide trends. For instance, while DHIMS is accessible, it lacks detailed information such as age and method of suicide. The Births and Deaths Registry provides age data but not the method of death, and police data, though informative, is difficult to access. Research often covers small populations, making national extrapolation challenging. Some suicide deaths are never officially reported due to traditional burial practices in communities, and stigma influences the accuracy of information provided by families. Health professionals, conditioned by the former criminalisation regime, may record immediate physical causes rather than suicide, thus skewing data. Dr. Obeng noted that DHIMS recorded about 90 suicide deaths between 2022 and 2023, equivalent to approximately 0.29 deaths per 100,000 population. Following decriminalisation in 2023, reported deaths increased before declining again, indicating that legal reform alone does not sustain changes in reporting and behavior. The Births and Deaths Registry data suggests that males account for three to five times the number of female suicide deaths, with 51% occurring among individuals aged 35 to 60, indicating particular vulnerability in the working-age population. Key risk factors identified include mental health conditions, previous suicide attempts, chronic illnesses, interpersonal conflicts, and financial stress, among others. Protective factors include social support, community connectedness, and professional help. Dr. Obeng ca lled for compassionate mental health services, stronger suicide surveillance systems, and responsible media reporting. He urged various societal sectors to break the silence around suicide and encourage those in distress to seek assistance. Emphasizing the profound social, emotional, and economic consequences of every suicide, Dr. Obeng advocated for sustained public education, improved mental health service access, and coordinated national action to reduce suicide rates and strengthen Ghana's response to suicidal behavior.