Sunyani, Nov. 16, – Brong-Ahafo
Region has recorded 98 cases of attempted suicide, a field survey conducted by
MIHOSO International, a health centred Non-Governmental Organisation, has said.
The survey, which was conducted
in 11 districts, between 2015 and 2016, also confirmed three cases of suicide
involving two females and one male, with 270 people suffering from depression.
Dr Gbiel Gabriel Benarkuu, the
Chief Executive Officer of MIHOSO, speaking to the Ghana News Agency, said the
survey formed part of a mental health project his NGO is undertaking in
collaboration with BasicNeeds Ghana with support from the DFID/UKAID.
The four-year project being
implemented in 13 districts and municipalities in the region is titled
“Enabling people with mental illness or epilepsy to access their human rights
in Ghana”.
Dr Benarkuu expressed concern
about the upsurge of depression, particularly, among young women in the region,
which, he said was a major contributory factor to many of the attempted and
suicide cases recorded in the region.
He said findings from the survey
showed a glaring relationship between depression and suicide which had led many
patients into psychological and emotional trauma.
Dr Benarkuu expressed concern
that many of the depression and suicide cases in the survey-conducted
communities were left unreported.
He said with support from
care-takers, his outfit has reached out to 5,362 people with mental disorders
including epilepsy and it was facilitating outreach clinics and follow-ups to
help manage their problems.
Dr Benarkuu said with strict
adherence to drugs, mental disorders could be treated and advised care-takers
to assist victims to take their drugs at stipulated intervals.
He expressed discomfort about the
continuous stigmatization of people with mental disorders and appealed to the
general public to refrain from such behaviours so that cases could be reported.
Dr Benarkuu, who is the National
Chairman of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, said dealing with the stigma
associated with mental health requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders
and entire society.
Specifically, he said,
traditional authorities, assembly members and other opinion leaders in local
communities have a specific role to play in addressing the discrimination and
stigmatization of mental health patients.
Dr Benarkuu called for intensive
training for community-based volunteers on the basic essentials of depression
and suicide as well as other related cases.
GNA
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