Accra: Ghana may be capturing less than 10 percent of estimated suicide deaths, Dr. Kwadwo Marfo Obeng, Medical Director of Accra Psychiatric Hospital, has said. He highlighted this concern during the launch of the National Suicide Situational Report, Media Reporting Guidelines, and Scorecard for Ghana in Accra, an event held to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Obeng revealed that around 90 suicide deaths were recorded through the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS), translating to 0.29 deaths per 100,000 population, compared to an estimated national rate of 8.5 per 100,000. He emphasized the significant gaps in suicide mortality reporting, which limit the country's ability to accurately assess the scale and distribution of suicide and suicidal behavior.
Ghana possesses several sources of suicide mortality data, such as DHIMS, the Births and Deaths Registry, the Police, and research institutions, but these systems remain fragmented. Dr. Obeng questioned whether the low reporting figures reflect more efficient data collection in some regions or an actual increase in suicide deaths in certain areas. He attributed the under-reporting partly to the stigma surrounding suicide and its criminalization in Ghana until 2023.
He noted that some deaths occurring in homes and communities are not reported to health facilities or the Police before burial, while others reaching hospitals are recorded under immediate physical causes such as trauma or severe blood loss. This information often fails to make it into the DHIMS due to it not being recorded in hospital records.
Dr. Obeng also pointed out the lack of a formal mechanism for transferring certificates of cause of death from health facilities to the Births and Deaths Registry, which further creates gaps in national data. He acknowledged that the decriminalization of suicide in 2023 seemed to improve reporting in some systems.
The DHIMS records showed an increase from about 90 suicide deaths in 2022/23 to 134 after the law changed, before declining again to about 90 in 2025. In contrast, the Births and Deaths Registry recorded a 276 percent increase between 2023 and 2024. The analysis showed that individuals aged 35 to 60 years accounted for about 51 percent of recorded suicide deaths, with males accounting for significantly more deaths than females.
Dr. Obeng identified key risk factors including mental health disorders, previous suicide attempts, anxiety, hopelessness, impulsivity, chronic physical illnesses, interpersonal conflict, trauma, abuse, bullying, bereavement, academic pressure, relationship difficulties, financial stress, and unemployment. He stressed the need to address agricultural-related risks, particularly in northern Ghana.
The report also highlighted social support, religious communities, and seeking professional help as protective factors against suicidal behavior. Dr. Obeng called for improved access to mental health services, responsible media reporting, and stronger collaboration among families, communities, schools, workplaces, health professionals, and other stakeholders. He emphasized that every suicide is a tragedy with profound social, emotional, and economic consequences for families, friends, and workplaces.
He stated that the situational analysis would provide evidence for developing a national suicide prevention strategy and support advocacy and resource mobilization.