By Prince Ahenkorah
The Mental Health Authority (MHA), has raised alarm over a 40 percent rise in suicide-related deaths in Ghana in 2024, describing the trend as a growing public health and economic crisis.
The revelation was made by the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Dr. Eugene Dordoye, during the commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
The event was held under the theme, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide after Decriminalization.”
According to Dr. Dordoye, most of the cases were recorded among young people, a development he described as particularly worrying given their potential to contribute to the nation’s growth.
“The reported lives lost in 2023 were about 134. But we know that for every life lost, three to five times more people attempt. And for every attempt, up to 10 people are affected by it,” he stated.
He added that while part of the increase may be attributed to heightened awareness and improved reporting, the figures also reflect a real surge in suicide deaths across the country.
“Unfortunately, we experienced up to a 40 percent increase in 2024, and the concern here is whether it could be the increase in awareness or reportage. We don’t have all the answers, but what we know is that we need to do more. We cannot afford to lose Ghanaians through a preventable cause of death,” Dr. Dordoye warned.
The Mental Health Authority is therefore urging government and stakeholders to step up policy interventions, scale up investments in mental health care, and strengthen community-level awareness campaigns.
The aim, Dr. Dordoye stressed, is to reduce stigma, encourage early help-seeking behavior, and make support services more accessible.
The commemoration brought together mental health professionals, civil society organisations, students, and suicide survivors, all of whom pledged to intensify advocacy and collaboration in tackling the rising tide of suicides in Ghana.
Information reaching The New Republic from the Mental Health Authority indicates that rising cases of mental health distress, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse, are increasingly driving people to take their own lives.
According to mental health experts, these conditions often manifest in feelings of hopelessness, social withdrawal, severe mood swings, and impaired judgment, all of which heighten the risk of suicide if left untreated.
It is believed that economic pressure, unemployment, relationship breakdowns, and social stigma around seeking help are compounding the crisis, leaving many vulnerable people without the support they need.
The World Health Organization estimates that one in every eight people globally lives with a mental health condition. Experts believe that without sustained interventions, Ghana’s suicide crisis could worsen, undermining national development goals.