World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) 2024 comes with a timely theme, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.” This triennial theme (2024-2026), along with the call to action “Start the Conversation,” encourages breaking the silence surrounding suicide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the need for open dialogue, destigmatization, and policies that prioritize mental health in suicide prevention. This article connects these global directives with research findings in Ghana, especially highlighting the neglected issue of child suicide and the role of community-based initiatives like the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) in preventing suicide.
Suicide Among Children: An Overlooked Crisis
One of the major gaps in global suicide research is the lack of focus on young children. In a 2024 study, Quarshie et al. drew attention to suicide among children in Ghana, a phenomenon that has seen a discernible increase in media reports since 2015. Their analysis of media reports from January 2000 to March 2022 revealed 30 cases of attempted and completed suicides among children aged 12 and under, with boys making up the majority of the victims (n=22). The study also found that hanging was the most commonly reported method, and most incidents were characterized by subtle or no warning signs detected by parents and caregivers (Quarshie et al., 2024).
This alarming trend aligns with the WHO’s message on World Suicide Prevention Day 2024, which emphasizes the need to focus on often overlooked groups. Child suicide is one of these groups, largely ignored in both research and policy discussions. The call to “Start the Conversation” on suicide is especially pertinent here. Conversations around mental health and suicide in children must become a national priority in countries like Ghana, where cultural stigma often limits the ability of children to express emotional distress.
Community-Based Interventions: A Key to Prevention
The WHO stresses the importance of community engagement in suicide prevention, a sentiment echoed in research by Assan et al. (2023), which highlights the potential of Ghana’s CHPS initiative. CHPS was designed to extend healthcare services to every community, focusing on preventive care and community involvement. The authors propose three key strategies through which CHPS can contribute to suicide prevention: life-course and multisectoral approaches, community participation, and integrated surveillance and monitoring systems (Assan et al., 2023).
CHPS, by promoting community ownership of healthcare, is ideally positioned to integrate suicide prevention into its service package. Life-course approaches that focus on the mental health needs of individuals at various stages of life, from childhood through adulthood, can provide early intervention for vulnerable populations.
Involving communities in these processes helps to nurture an environment where the taboo around discussing suicide can be broken. The success of CHPS in preventing other health crises, such as maternal mortality, demonstrates its potential to tackle mental health issues if appropriately resourced.
The Role of Stigma and Criminalization in Suicide Prevention
Ghana’s criminalization of attempted suicide has long been a barrier to effective mental health support. Until 2023, attempted suicide was considered a misdemeanor under the Criminal Code, meaning those who survived an attempt could face imprisonment. However, following advocacy and debates, Ghana decriminalized attempted suicide in 2023. This legislative shift is a critical step toward reducing stigma and treating mental health as a public health issue rather than a criminal one (Osafo et al., 2015).
This change aligns with WHO’s message that suicide prevention requires evidence-based interventions that reduce stigma. Also, suicide should be regarded and treated as a mental health issue rather than a crime. This affords the country an opportunity to create an environment where those experiencing suicidal ideation are more likely to seek help. Stigma reduction is crucial not only at the level of policy but also within communities, where religious and social norms often reinforce negative perceptions of mental illness. Engaging local religious leaders and community members, as recommended by Osafo et al., in mental health education can help reduce this stigma and support those at risk (Osafo et al., 2015).
Child Suicide: A Growing Concern
The study by Quarshie et al. (2024) highlights another area that demands attention—suicide among young children. The researchers noted an upward trend in media reports of child suicide since 2015, with subtle or no warning signs detected by caregivers. This suggests a gap in awareness and early intervention for children’s mental health needs.
The WHO’s theme for WSPD 2024 underscores the importance of starting conversations on suicide, which must include children’s mental health. Schools, communities, and healthcare providers should work together to create safe spaces where children can express their feelings without fear of judgment or punishment.
In Ghana, there is a need for targeted interventions that address the unique emotional and psychological challenges faced by children. Programs aimed at improving parental awareness, as well as school-based mental health support, could play a significant role in the early detection of mental health issues. Moreover, integrating child-focused mental health services into CHPS could bridge the gap between families and professional support, ensuring that children in rural areas have access to the care they need.
The Path Forward: A Holistic Approach
Marking World Suicide Prevention Day in 2024 raises attention to the need for a multifaceted approach to suicide prevention has never been clearer. The WHO calls for reducing stigma and starting open conversations, but effective action requires more than dialogue. What this means for Ghana is that suicide prevention at both the policy and community levels must be prioritized with integrated mental health services into existing healthcare frameworks like CHPS.
Children, in particular, must be part of this conversation. The upward trend in child suicides, coupled with a lack of visible warning signs, underscores the importance of early intervention and education. Community leaders, parents, schools, and healthcare providers all have a role to play in creating a supportive environment where children’s mental health is taken seriously.
Changing the narrative is a must and should start conversations that embrace community-based prevention efforts. Indeed, Ghana can make meaningful strides toward reducing suicide rates and supporting those in crisis.
References
- Assan, A., Aikins, M., & Takian, A. (2023). Suicide in Ghana: How Could the Community-Based Health Planning and Service (CHPS) Effectively Contribute to Its Prevention?
- Osafo, J., Akotia, C., Andoh-Arthur, J., & Quarshie, E. N. B. (2015). Attempted Suicide in Ghana: Motivation, Stigma, and Coping. Death Studies, 39(5), 274-280. DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2014.991955
- Quarshie, E. N. B., Egyir, R., Quarshie, S. N., & Yirenkyi, A. M. (2024). Suicidal Behaviour in Children in Ghana: Evidence from Media Reports. Cogent Public Health, 11(1), 2365448. DOI: 10.1080/27707571.2024.2365448
