The international community is today (September 10), observing World Suicide Prevention Day. It is marked on September 10 every year to raise awareness on suicide and the attendant devastation on society.
The occasion is used to draw national, governments, organizations and individual’s attention to the urgent need to contribute meaningfully towards prevention of suicides.
Research shows that in Ghana, one in ten adults in rural communities think about taking their own lives and nearly 3 in 10 junior high school students in the country are reported to have attempted suicide in the past 12 months while 2 out of 10 senior High schools students report suicide attempts during the past 12 months.
A statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Psychological Association, Joy Anima Debrah says the fight to prevent suicide critically requires leadership at the government and political levels to show commitment towards prioritizing and investing in improving mental health of citizens.
It says one such commitment is to expunge the code that criminalizes suicide attempt survivors from the books and rather put in place safety nets to support vulnerable people.
