Renowned physcologist, Dr. Obed Lartey has urge Ghanaians to open up on their Mental health issues in order to receive guidance from a psychologist and the appropriate authorities.
This comes on the back of two police officers suspected to have committed suicide in the space of two days. The Half Assini District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police; Mr Cyprian Zenge reportedly shot himself in his house with his sidearm.
A note that reads, “I am fed up in this world,” was found close to him.
In an interview on Plan B FM morning show ‘Nkosuo Nsem’, Dr. Lartey stated that he is not surprised with the recent suicides being committed by individuals and the police officers because it is a serious issue that requires a collective effort to mitigate it.
“The situation is worrying, one person dies every 40 seconds from suicide; suicide can happen to everybody,” Dr. Lartey said”
“Mental health disorders (particularly depression and substance abuse) are associated with more than 90% of all cases of suicide;
“However, suicide results from many complex sociocultural factors is more likely to occur during periods of socioeconomic, family and individual crisis (e.g. loss of a loved one, unemployment, sexual orientation, difficulties with developing one’s identity, disassociation from one’s community or other social/belief group” He added
Dr. Obed Lartey also made mention that, Scientists have long recognized that many psychiatric disorders and mental health isuues tend to run in families, suggesting potential genetic roots and Other biological factors may be involved in the development of mental illness.
Discussion about this post