Calls for decriminalising of suicide

Accra, Sept. 9, GNA - An NGO in the health sector, Health Promotion Watch, Ghana, on Thursday called for the repeal of the law criminalising attempted suicide and the promotion of public awareness that suicide is a public health problem while many suicides are preventable.

It said although the law is often not invoked many of those who attempt suicide, for fear of being punished, does not want to share their experience with the public.

In a statement signed by Mr Abraham Arthur, Communications Director, to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, which falls on Friday, the NGO said the World Health Organisation estimated that suicide was the 13th leading cause of death worldwide.

There are over one million suicides every year and 10-20 million non-fatal attempts. In Ghana there were four suicide cases in two weeks in August this year, the NGO said.

This year's event is under the theme 93Many Faces, Many Places: Suicide Prevention Across the World."

It said their research found that the risk factors included previous suicide attempt, mental disorders and barriers to accessing mental health treatment, alcohol and substance abuse, hopelessness, impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies, financial loss and physical illness.

Others are loss of relations, easy access to lethal methods, influence of significant people and cultural and religious beliefs.

It called for the improvement of the ability of primary care providers to recognise and treat depression, substance abuse and other major mental illnesses associated with suicide to reduce the stigma associated with it.

Health Promotion Watch called for training for health, mental health, substance abuse and human service providers, including the clergy, teachers, correctional workers, social workers, and also family members of those at risk on suicide risk assessment and recognition, treatment, management and aftercare interventions.

It called for increase in research on effective suicide prevention programmes, clinical treatment for suicidal individual and culture-specific interventions and the promotion of safety measures to reduce easy access to lethal means of suicide.