Sep 11, 20202 min read

EVERY SUICIDAL PERSON IS LOOKING FOR FRIENDSHIP . . . DON'T JUDGE THEM! - PROF. JOSEPH OSAFO

• He asked the population to be concerned about one another and be each other's keeper.

• He warned against judging people who become suicidal as a result of their ordeals. • He urged the citizenry to watch out for people who express intention to die or make depressive comments and show them love and support.

Head of Psychology at University of Ghana, Prof. Joseph Osafo has advised Ghanaians not to downplay mental health problems in the country.

He asked the population to be concerned about one another and be each other's keeper.

He warned against judging people who become suicidal as a result of their ordeals. He urged the citizenry to watch out for people who express intention to die or make depressive comments and show them love and support. Making his submissions on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Prof. Osafo disclosed how to handle a depressed person or people with psychological problems. "Be interested in finding out about changes in people's lives. There are people who cry a lot at the slightest minute and make depressive comments. Research shows the chance that a depressed person could commit suicide is high," he said. To him, "when you see these signs, don't trivialize them. Don't condemn. Don't judge; if you can help, help! . . . Be practically minded . . . Every suicidal person is looking for friendshp''.

World Suicide Prevention Day

Thursday, September 10, 2020 marks World Suicide Prevention Day to raise awarness about suicide and is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) with the World Health Organization (W.H.O) as co-sponsor.

According to the W.H.O, ''close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds and there are indications that for each adult who died by suicide there may have been more than 20 others attempting suicide''.