The Ghana Association for Suicide Prevention (GASP) is advocating for the development of a National Suicide Prevention Plan to establish a unified framework for addressing suicidal tendencies in Ghana.

GASP has expressed appreciation for the government's initiative to decriminalize attempted suicide, recognizing it as a mental health concern that warrants support rather than legal prosecution.

However, GASP emphasizes that more comprehensive measures are needed to effectively reduce the incidence of suicides and suicide attempts in the nation.

“While lauding this great effort, GASP also calls attention to the fact that decriminalisation alone does not necessarily lead to drastic reductions in suicide, unless there is political will to equip health facilities and help centres with the needed logistics and personnel to be able to receive and support the increasing numbers of people who might want to go there to seek help,” GASP said in a statement commemorating World Suicide Prevention Day.

According to a 2020 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), Ghana experiences approximately 1,993 suicides each year.

Furthermore, a 4-year report on suicide attempts in Ghana, released by the Ministry of Health (MOH), disclosed that there were 707 suicide attempts in 2018, 880 in 2019, 777 in 2020, and 417 recorded attempts as of June 2021.

In light of these statistics, GASP asserts that implementing a unified framework to address suicidal behaviors in the country is a necessary and crucial step forward.

They noted that “A National Suicide Prevention Plan can, among other benefits, help produce locally relevant recommendations and guidelines in the areas of suicide research, surveillance, reportage and content in the media, support for persons in suicidal crises, help for loved ones left behind and family members bereaved by suicides, and operations of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the area of suicide prevention.”

They also encouraged individuals to desist from maltreating persons who may verbalise a wish to die or may have attempted suicide.

“People in suicidal crises require empathy and practical assistance and not condemnation,” they stated.

They added that “We at GASP are trained experts from multidisciplinary backgrounds committed to helping anyone undergoing suicidal crises. GASP is working closely with the Mental Health Authority to come up with a dedicated toll-free helpline that persons experiencing suicidal crises can call and receive prompt professional support.”