By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, Sept. 10, GNA – The Total Life Enhancement Centre (TOLECGH), a psychology-focused organisation, has called for a change in the way society perceives and responds to suicide.
It emphasised the need for society to move from blame and judgement to understanding, early intervention, and compassionate support for people experiencing psychological distress.
It said suicide should not be viewed simply as an individual act or a consequence of personal weakness but as a complex phenomenon influenced by biological, psychological, social, cultural, and economic factors.
This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Mr Peter Mintir Amadu, Clinical Health Psychologist and Executive Director of TOLECGH, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale.
The statement came as part of activities to commemorate this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day.
Observed annually on September 10, the Day is being commemorated this year on the theme: “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”.
The statement said the theme required collective action from individuals, families, institutions, professionals, and communities to create a more supportive environment for people experiencing psychological distress.
It said psychological distress often remained hidden in communities because of stigma, misconceptions, fear of judgement, limited access to professional services, and cultural interpretations of mental health challenges.
It said young people, women, survivors of violence, vulnerable groups and marginalised populations could face additional barriers in accessing appropriate mental health and psychosocial support.
It, therefore, called for a shift from silence and judgement towards early identification of psychological distress, compassionate engagement, professional intervention, and sustained support for people experiencing mental health challenges.
It emphasised that families, schools, workplaces, religious institutions, and communities had important roles to play in creating supportive environments where individuals could talk about their emotional and psychological difficulties and seek help without being labelled, ridiculed, or condemned.
It said effective suicide prevention required attention to the whole person explaining that psychological interventions should be complemented by supportive relationships, functional referral systems, and appropriate social and economic support.
It urged stakeholders to pay attention to changes in mood, behaviour, daily functioning, social interaction, and expressions of hopelessness saying early recognition of such changes could facilitate timely intervention and prevent situations from escalating.
The statement also encouraged mental health professionals and community stakeholders to strengthen their capacity in suicide risk identification, assessment, crisis intervention, referral, and follow-up care.
It emphasised that individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviours should receive professional attention, dignity, and non-judgemental support.
It said changing the narrative on suicide required society to replace blame with understanding, silence with safe conversations, crisis response with prevention and isolation with connectedness.
It said suicide prevention was possible when individuals, families, mental health professionals, institutions, and communities worked together to identify psychological distress early and provide appropriate support.
The statement said a conversation, timely intervention, and supportive relationship could make a difference in the life of a person experiencing psychological distress.
GNA
Edited by Albert Futukpor/Linda Asante Agyei
Writer’s Email: [email protected]