Society urged to play critical role to prevent suicide

Society urged to play critical role in suicide prevention

The Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services Dr Frederick Adomako Boateng has called on the general public including families and health workers to play a critical role in suicide prevention and thereby save lives regardless of one’s status.

He said the Ashanti Region has witnessed concerning rise in cases of mental health disorders and suicide related incidents among the youth and working _agg population due to depression, substance abuse, financial stress among others.

Dr Adomako Boateng made the call on the world suicide prevention day 2025 on behalf of the Regional Health Directorate to raise awareness about suicide prevention and to reaffirm the Directorate ‘s commitment to protecting mental health and well-being of every one in the Ashanti Region.

The Regional Health Director revealed that there has been 66 attempted suicide cases as of June 2025 as against 56 same time 2024 in the Ashanti Region.

Suicide cases stood at 3 as of June this year as against 7 by June last year; a situation he partly attributed to social isolation and stigma surrounding mental illness.

According to Dr Adomako Boateng.the Region Health Directorate is committed to expanding mental health services across the region, train more health care professional, increase public education and awareness among other things.

He therefore encouraged anyone struggling with emotional stress or suicidal thoughts to seek help immediately in order to prevent suicide..