The Mental Health Authority (MHA) has revealed a worrying 40% rise in suicide-related deaths in 2024, sparking renewed calls for urgent interventions to tackle the growing public health crisis.

Speaking at the commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 in Accra, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, under the theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide after Decriminalisation,” Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Dr. Eugene Dordoye, disclosed that most of the cases were recorded among young people.

“The reported lives lost in 2023 were about 134. But we know that for every life lost, three to five times more people attempt. And for every attempt, up to 10 people are affected by it,” Dr. Dordoye noted.

He warned that the rising trend poses not only a public health concern but also an economic challenge, as the majority of those dying by suicide are young people with the greatest potential to contribute to Ghana’s GDP.

Dr. Dordoye added that while the surge could partly be linked to increased awareness and improved reporting, there is also evidence of a real increase in suicide deaths.

“Unfortunately, we experienced up to a 40% increase in 2024, and the concern here is whether it could be the increase in awareness or reportage. We don’t have all the answers, but what we know is that we need to do more. We cannot afford to lose Ghanaians through a preventable cause of death,” he stressed.

He further called for stronger policy interventions, greater investment in mental health services, and expanded community-level awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage early help-seeking behaviour.

The commemoration brought together mental health professionals, civil society organisations, students, and survivors, all of whom pledged to support nationwide advocacy to combat the rising tide of suicides in Ghana.