Implement a Mental Health Policy – Prof Akwesi Osei Tasks Government

The CEO of the Mental Health Authority (MHA), Professor Akwasi Osei has urged the government to implement a policy to guide mental health officers on how to deal with suicide-related issues.

According to Professor Akwasi Osei, there has been a concurrent increase in mental health and suicide cases in the country and the government should pay attention to it.

Speaking at the launch of the WHO Director General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health on July 6, 2022, he expressed his worry about the issue of mental health and suicide among Ghanaian youths.

He revealed that there has been an increase in suicide attempted cases from 777 in 2020 to 902 in 2021, whiles suicide incidences moved from 69 to 86 cases, and most people engaged in the act are persons between the ages of 16-35 years.

He said, “I decided to tally and know why people are attempting to harm themselves and I received more than 100 calls and mostly 2 or 3 are suicide-related… I have realized most of them are between the ages of 16-35 years… some have completed school and cannot secure a job and out of frustration, they feel like taking their lives… others are also attempting death due to relationship problems”.

He, therefore, called on the government to develop and implement a policy that will aid officers in the systematic approach to handling mental health and suicide cases.