Mental health stakeholders in Ghana have raised concerns over a noticeable rise in suicide cases, particularly among young people, sparking renewed calls for stronger intervention and public awareness.
Officials from the Mental Health Authority say the trend is linked to worsening economic pressures, unemployment, substance abuse, and persistent stigma that prevents many people from seeking help early. Despite the existence of the Mental Health Act, access to care remains limited due to a shortage of trained professionals and inadequate funding for mental health facilities.
Advocacy groups and community leaders are now intensifying campaigns to encourage open conversations around mental wellbeing, urging the public to treat mental health conditions as medical issues rather than moral or spiritual failings.
The government has also reiterated its commitment to expanding mental health coverage under the National Health Insurance Scheme, a move experts believe could improve access to diagnosis and treatment across the country.
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