Accra: The Association for Suicide Prevention Ghana (GASP) has called on the government and stakeholders to invest in mental health to improve the wellbeing of people and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with suicide. The Association made the call as Ghana marks this year's World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) on the theme: 'Changing the Narrative'.
According to Ghana News Agency, the theme for the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is in its second year as it was chosen by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP) as a triennial celebration theme for 2024, 2025, and 2026. The triennial celebration theme seeks to raise consciousness across the globe about the epidemic of suicide and to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma, and foster open, compassionate conversations about suicide.
A statement issued by the GASP and copied to the Ghana News Agency said Ghana ranked high among nations that had taken bold initiatives to address suicidal behavior due to its recent repeal of the laws criminalizing suicide attempts. The Association said despite the effort, stigmatization, social exclusions, and cultural taboos continue to affect people experiencing suicidal crises, preventing them from seeking help.
The statement emphasized that suicide is preventable and evidence shows that persons with suicidal intent who seek help get better and are able to lead normal lives. The global call to change the narrative means driving systemic change that will make suicide prevention and mental health become priority areas in public policy. 'Changing the narrative' is about shifting from silence and misunderstanding to openness, empathy, and support, creating environments where people feel able to speak up and seek help.
The GASP noted that the pervasive stigma and silence surrounding suicide hinder open discussion about the topic, cutting-edge research, identification and prevention of risk factors, and disclosures of suicidal intent for professional support. The Association indicated that the call to action involved developing and implementing evidence-based strategies, improving access to quality care, and ensuring that those in distress received the support they needed.
Research continues to reveal underlying mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, stress, and sociocentric factors such as poverty, interpersonal and romantic relationship conflicts, oppression and marginalization, cultural, and religious factors, which elevate suicide risk in the general population. The GASP identified parent-child conflicts, poor academic performance, lack of reasons for living, meaninglessness, substance use and misuse, gambling and pornographic addictions, and excessive and unregulated screen time as factors linked to suicide among children and young people.
The statement highlighted that suicide is the third cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally, and more than 720,000 people take their lives annually around the world. Africa records the highest rate of suicide (11.5 per 100,000 people) compared to other regions of the world and the global average of 8.9 suicides per 100,000 people. The statement indicated that recent WHO estimates suggested that in Ghana, 8.1 persons per 100,000 people died by suicide in 2021, underscoring that suicide is not only a personal, family, and community problem but also an economic challenge.
The GASP estimated that a death by suicide costs an average present value of 92,576 dollars per year, highlighting the imperative for African Governments, particularly Ghana, to prioritize suicide prevention, especially among adolescents and young adults, through the development of comprehensive suicide prevention policies.
GASP is a non-governmental, non-profit-making organization of professionals committed to suicide prevention in Ghana, dedicated to driving the change in narrative locally. As part of its local efforts, GASP is working closely with major stakeholders including WHO Ghana Office, LifeLine International, and media personnel to develop locally sensitive guidelines for changing the narrative through responsible suicide reporting. 'Let's all work together to change the narrative to prevent suicides. Suicide prevention is everyone's business,' it said.
