Mental Health Authority calls for compassionate approach to suicide prevention
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. The post Mental Health Authority calls for compassionate approach to suicide prevention appeared first on Ghana Business News .
The Mental Health Authority (MHA) in Ghana has urged for a more compassionate approach to suicide prevention. Dr Eugene Dordoye, the Chief Executive of the MHA, emphasized that suicidal behavior should be treated as a public health concern, not a criminal act. He argued that people experiencing suicidal thoughts should receive immediate professional care and should not face arrest or punishment for disclosing their experiences publicly.
Dr Dordoye highlighted the importance of early intervention, treatment, and support, using an Akan metaphor to illustrate that society should first rescue people in danger before seeking to understand how they got into that situation.
The MHA also called for stronger collaboration among various stakeholders, including health professionals, families, communities, religious institutions, and the media, to identify individuals at risk and connect them to appropriate care. Dr Dordoye urged the media to adopt responsible reporting practices that avoid reinforcing stigma and causing further harm.
He urged people experiencing suicidal thoughts or severe emotional distress to seek help from trusted individuals and the national mental health helpline, 0800 678 678.
The MHA's call for a compassionate approach to suicide prevention aligns with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) focus on addressing suicide as a major global public health challenge. Dr Fiona Braka, the Country Representative of WHO, commended Ghana for decriminalizing attempted suicide in March 2023, emphasizing that the reform represents a shift from punishment to care and compassion.
She highlighted that suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people and that the 2023 Ghana STEPS Survey showed that 3.8% of adults had considered suicide and 2.3% had attempted it. Dr Braka urged for stronger collaboration to prevent suicide, emphasizing the need to move from silence, fear, and misunderstanding to openness, hope, empathy, and support.
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