Accra: The Mental Health Authority (MHA) has called for stronger suicide prevention measures, urging a shift from stigma and punishment to early intervention, treatment, and support. Dr. Eugene Dordoye, Chief Executive of the MHA, emphasized that suicidal behavior should be treated as a public health concern rather than a crime, with those experiencing suicidal thoughts given immediate professional care. He made this appeal during the launch of the Suicide Situational Report for Ghana and the commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Dordoye highlighted that although Ghana decriminalized attempted suicide in 2023, stigma continues to deter individuals from seeking help and accessing mental health services. He pointed out that people who have survived suicide attempts should not face arrest or further punishment when they disclose their experiences publicly. "If you just say on radio that you have attempted suicide before, police could just arrest you," he noted, mentioning past instances where individuals were jailed for attempting suicide.
Dr. Dordoye advocated for a health system centered on identifying at-risk individuals, providing timely treatment, and connecting them to community-based services. Using an Akan metaphor about people drowning downstream, he emphasized that society should first rescue those in danger before understanding how they ended up in such situations. He also addressed how religious leaders' descriptions of suicidal thoughts as sinful or demonic have discouraged individuals from seeking mental health care. "We don't do that to somebody who is suicidal. We save them when they are suicidal," he insisted.
Dr. Dordoye called for collaboration among health professionals, families, communities, religious institutions, and the media to identify at-risk individuals and link them to appropriate care. He urged the media to adopt responsible reporting practices that protect vulnerable individuals and avoid reinforcing stigma or causing harm. He stressed that suicidal behavior indicates psychological distress requiring treatment and support rather than evidence of criminal intent. He encouraged individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts to speak to someone they trust and seek professional help, highlighting the availability of the national mental health helpline, 0800 678 678.
Dr. Fiona Braka, Country Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), commended the Ghanaian government for decriminalizing attempted suicide, recognizing the shift from punishment to care and compassion. She noted that suicide remains a major global public health challenge, claiming over 720,000 lives annually. Findings from the 2023 Ghana STEPS Survey revealed that 3.8% of adults had considered suicide, while 2.3% reported attempting suicide, with suicidal thoughts being more common among young people.
Dr. Braka emphasized the theme for the 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day, 'Changing the Narrative on Suicide: Start the Conversation,' which encourages open discussions about suicide and mental health. WHO has supported the training of over 800 health workers in suicide prevention, improving access to mental health services at community and primary healthcare levels. WHO's LIVE LIFE approach aims to expand evidence-based interventions, strengthen media reporting, and increase access to mental health support.
She called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, communities, health professionals, and civil society to prevent suicide, urging a movement towards openness, hope, empathy, and support. The launch united stakeholders from various sectors to examine Ghana's suicide situation and reinforce prevention efforts. World Suicide Prevention Day, observed annually on September 10, raises awareness and promotes global action to prevent suicide.