The Head of Department of Psychological Medicine & Mental Health at the School of Medicine at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Dr. Eugene Dordoye has advised residents of Anlo Afiadenyigba in the Keta municipality of the Volta Region to disabuse their mind that suicide is caused by spiritual forces.
Dr. Dordoye who was addressing the residents at a public forum organized by the Anlo Afiadenyigba Youth Council, explained that for a suicide to occur, three main preconditions must be met.
These are predisposition to suicide, mental illness and the mode or means of committing the act.
According to him, people with a family history of suicide, those who made an attempt previously and people into excessive smoking or drinking are more likely to commit suicide when the other conditions prevail.
These other conditions include depression and schizophrenia.
According to Dr. Dordoye, suicide cannot occur when any of the three conditions is not present.
He said it is therefore possible to prevent suicide by eliminating or working on just one of the three preconditions.
A suicide survivor, Favor Hilda Brown, who is the Founder and CEO of Favor Foundation for Life (FFL) told the residents that suicide should not be an option for them.
She explained that ten years ago, out of depression resulting from a broken down relationship, she herself attempted suicide but was rescued.
She said she has learnt useful lessons, which have made her a better and stronger person and now knows that suicide is not a solution to any problem.
Madam Brown challenged the residents to learn from her experience and join her crusade to prevent suicide in the country. She asked anyone going through any challenge, be it economic, social, emotional or psychological to seek help.
They can confide in trusted friends, religious leaders or medical practitioners.
Madam Brown implore the public to have fellow feeling and give a listening ear to people in need of any kind of help and not to trivialize the issues.
During the open forum, some of the residents insisted that suicide is as a result of a charm, ‘vodoo’, ‘juju’ and other spiritual forces.
The Keta Divisional Crime Officer, Supt Asamani advised the residents to report suicide cases to the police and not tamper with the crime scene to aid investigation.
According to him, some of the incidents may not be suicide but rather murder which can only be uncovered after a thorough investigation.
Supt Asamani also explained to the public that anyone who attempts to commit suicide commits a crime and can be arrested and prosecuted.
Dr. Dordoye however insisted that, that aspect of the law must be reviewed. He said it is wrong to criminalise suicide, which is a symptom of a mental illness.
He wants people who attempted suicide to be regarded as sick people and sent to the hospital for treatment.
The Chairman of the Anlo Afiadenyigba Youth Council, Bubu Klinogo, explained that the forum became necessary because of recent cases recorded in the town.
According to him, in a spate of one week October 21-28, there were four suicide attempts, resulting in the death of two youths.
The occurrences, he said alarmed the Youth Council, hence the need for the forum to educate the residents.
Story filed by Bubu Klinogo
