The Mental Health Authority (MHA) is sounding the alarm over a growing suicide crisis in Ghana, with new data showing a 40% increase in deaths last year. Officials are urging the public to treat suicide not as a crime but as a cry for help, as the world marks World Suicide Prevention Day 2025.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Acting Chief Executive of the MHA, Dr. Eugene Dodoye, revealed that 134 people died by suicide in 2024, compared to 96 in 2023.
He noted that the true scale of the problem is even greater, as for every life lost, three to five more people attempt suicide, revealing that “The reported lives lost last year in 2023 was about 134. But for every life lost, three to five times more people will attempt and that is the unfortunate thing.”
Data from the Authority shows more than 1,000 suicide attempts were recorded nationwide in 2024, and already 475 attempts have been reported in just the first half of 2025.
Dr. Dodoye stressed that stigma and the past criminalization of suicide have kept many silent, preventing them from seeking help. He said Ghana’s 2023 decision to decriminalize suicide was an important turning point, but more must be done.
“It is very challenging to lose lives through a preventable cause of death. These numbers are stark, and they tell us we need to do more,” he added.
The Authority has outlined a national suicide prevention strategy focused on public education, training for frontline workers, and sustainable funding through the Mental Health Fund.
Officials are also calling on the media to adopt responsible reporting, following World Health Organization guidelines that discourage sensational headlines and instead promote stories of resilience and hope.
Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that more than 720,000 people die by suicide annually, with social, emotional, and economic difficulties being key drivers.
“We cannot afford to lose Ghanaians to a preventable cause of death. Suicide prevention must become a national priority,” Dr. Dodoye emphasized.
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