Residents of New Amanful, a community in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region have been thrown into a state of disbelief after a man believed to be in his late sixties is alleged to have committed suicide as the world celebrates Suicide Prevention Day.
Assembly Member for the area, Paul Annan confirmed to Nyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson, the host of Connect FM’s Omanbapa Morning Show, that the yet-to-be-identified man was found hanging on a mango tree opposite the community cemetery.
“I had information early in the morning that someone had committed suicide on a mango tree opposite the community cemetery. I reported to the scene, and it was a sad spectacle. I called the police, and they came to examine the scene, they took the body away. Unfortunately, nobody in the Community recognizes him, he is a stranger who came to commit suicide in the area”, he indicated.
Today marks Suicide Prevention Day on the theme “Changing the Narrative” calling for an action to initiate conversations about suicide in the streets, homes, markets, offices, and schools, creating an opportunity to break the silence and stigma surrounding suicidal behavior.
The Ghana Mental Health Authority has in a statement indicated that Ghana recorded a total of 543 attempted suicides and 81 completed suicides through various District Health Information Management Systems across the country.
This represents an alarming increase compared to the 594 attempts and 48 completed suicides recorded for the entire year of 2023.
The surge is especially concerning as many of those affected by suicide worldwide are young (15-29 years).
