Ghana recorded a total of 543 attempted suicides and 81 completed suicides between January to June 2024, an official statement has said.
This represents an alarming increase compared to 594 attempts and 48 completed suicides recorded by the country in 2023.
The Greater Accra, Eastern and Central Regions recorded the highest numbers of suicide attempts for the first half of the year, with the most completed suicides occurring in the Greater Accra Region.
In a statement to commemorate Suicide Prevention Day on Tuesday (10 September), the Mental Health Authority urged Ghanaians to be vigilant and seek help adding that the suicide has now been decriminalized.
“There is growing concern about suicidal behaviour globally, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Ghana. Each year the global community observes World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, and the Mental Health Authority is leading Ghana to observe same this year, 2024.”
“In the first half of 2024, Ghana recorded a total of 543 attempted suicides and 81 completed suicides through various district health information management systems across the country,” the statement said.
Below is the full statement:
