{"id":551,"date":"2017-03-11T18:25:42","date_gmt":"2017-03-11T18:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aptnewsgh.com\/?p=551"},"modified":"2017-03-11T18:25:42","modified_gmt":"2017-03-11T18:25:42","slug":"mental-health-authority-provides-helpline-persons-planning-suicide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/index.php\/2017\/03\/11\/mental-health-authority-provides-helpline-persons-planning-suicide\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health Authority provides helpline for persons planning suicide"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Mental Health Authority has decided to establish a temporary helpline for persons contemplating suicide. The authority is, as well, in discussions with telecommunication companies for the establishment of\u00a0 permanent\u00a0 toll free numbers for the same purpose.<\/p>\n

In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of the authority, Dr Akwasi Osei, said the helpline number, 0206814666, was a short-term measure in response to the current spate of suicide cases\u00a0 the country was experiencing.<\/p>\n

He explained that those who committed suicide did so as a last resort and not because they wanted to die.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though they are happy when their attempt fails, they are likely to do it again if they do not get the needed intervention,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The chief psychiatrist described the trend, particularly among students, as very worrisome and an indication that \u201cwe are not paying proper attention to mental health care in the country\u201d.<\/p>\n

Long-term measure<\/strong><\/p>\n

For an effective and long-term measure to deal with the problem, Dr Osei said there was the need to pass the Legislative Instrument which would ensure that funding came through a mental health levy.<\/p>\n

This funding, he said, would improve mental health care by providing the resources\u00a0 needed for the purpose.<\/p>\n

He said the authority was establishing workplace-based and school-based mental health programmes to provide education on mental health and how to detect the early warning signs.<\/p>\n

Mental illness<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr Osei said\u00a0 95 per cent of attempted or completed suicide cases were as a result of\u00a0 mental illness.<\/p>\n

He explained that 80 per cent out of this 95 per cent was due to depression, while 15 per cent was as a result\u00a0 of other mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, acute stress reaction, alcohol and drug abuse.<\/p>\n

The other five per cent, he said, was due to\u00a0 decisions\u00a0 based on politics or religion, citing\u00a0 suicide bombings as an example and\u00a0 the decision of a person suffering from a chronic ailment such as cancer, HIV or diabetes for instance,\u00a0 to end it all.<\/p>\n

Asked why the phenomenon seems to recur during certain periods, Dr Osei\u00a0 said it was because the conditions that brought them about persisted and also because of the \u201ccopycat\u201d phenomenon.<\/p>\n

He explained that some persons who were already contemplating\u00a0 suicide went ahead and did so when they heard or read that others had done same, thinking that \u201cafter all, I am not alone\u201d.<\/p>\n

Appeal to media<\/strong><\/p>\n

He, therefore, appealed to the media to be circumspect in reporting suicide cases, saying the report must not be too graphical and there should be a deliberate balance to ensure that the report did not become attractive to those contemplating suicide.<\/p>\n

Another disturbing trend, according to Dr Osei,\u00a0 was that even though under normal circumstances four out of five victims of suicide were males with only one being female, the trend seemed to have changed, with females using more lethal methods such as hanging.<\/p>\n

\u201cHitherto, females would employ methods such as slashing their wrists or taking\u00a0 drugs overdose. With such methods, the likelihood is that they were found and saved,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Too young for university<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr Osei observed that many more students were going to tertiary institutions at a younger age when they had not developed coping mechanisms, hence they easily broke down with the stress of studies\u00a0 and other experiences on campus such as relationships.<\/p>\n

He said there was, therefore, the need to strengthen the tutor-to-student ratio\u00a0 in order that early warning signs could be picked, and expand counselling and clinical psychological services\u00a0 in the country for the needed intervention.<\/p>\n

The psychiatrist observed that the Ghanaian society had failed to\u00a0 establish mechanisms to replace the support which was\u00a0 offered by the extended family system, which helped to cushion during economic hardships and emotional crisis.<\/p>\n

credit:graphic.com.gh<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Mental Health Authority has decided to establish a temporary helpline for persons contemplating suicide. 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