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Urgent Call to Address Rising Suicides Among Ghanaian Police Officers

Latest News : Urgent Call to Address Rising Suicides Among Ghanaian Police Officers

Dr. Erica D. Dickson, Head of the Therapy and Wellness Department at the 37 Military Hospital, has raised serious concerns about the rising suicide rates among police officers in Ghana. Speaking at the 2024 World Suicide Prevention Day Forum in Accra, she revealed that 69 police officers took their own lives between 2015 and 2021. These alarming figures are part of a larger issue of mental health challenges within the country’s security forces.

Dr. Dickson cited a recent study that sampled 268 police officers, revealing that 28% had experienced lifetime suicidal ideation, 3% were actively planning suicide, 21.6% had expressed suicidal threats, and 26.9% had thought about suicide in the past year. While these statistics focus on the police, she emphasized that other security services might be facing similar mental health challenges, but due to the close-knit nature of those organizations, it can be harder to gather accurate data.

The nature of police work, with frequent exposure to traumatic situations such as accidents, deaths, and emergencies, increases the psychological strain on officers. Dr. Dickson explained that society’s expectations of toughness and resilience add to this burden, often leading to severe mental health issues, including acute stress disorders, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even suicide.

She urged for a greater focus on mental health support within the police force, suggesting that service members are not just vulnerable to mental disorders but are also at higher risk of suicide.

Professor Joseph Osafo, an expert on suicidology, called for more than just the decriminalization of suicide, urging the establishment of a national suicide prevention policy. He advocated for a change in the national narrative around suicide from one of stigma to one of hope and support.

Dr. John-Deigo Kosoe, a psychologist with the Ghana Police Service, highlighted specific risk factors that make police officers more vulnerable to suicide, including public perception, recruitment processes, work demands, unmet expectations, and easy access to lethal means. He stressed the need for mental health screenings during police recruitment to identify and address early signs of distress.

Major General R.K. Ewusie, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Ghana Armed Forces, emphasized the importance of open discussions about mental health across all security services. He called for investment in mental health training, education, and the strengthening of support systems such as counseling services and peer support networks, ensuring that no one feels isolated in their struggles.

The increasing rates of suicide among police officers highlight the urgent need for comprehensive mental health strategies, training, and support within the security forces.

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