The number of suicide cases in Ghana keeps increasing particularly among personnel of the Ghana Police Service.
This year alone, there have been three reported cases of Police personnel taking their lives with the recent being a 50-year-old Police Officer with the Legal and Prosecution Unit at Ashaiman, DSP Divine Asiam who shot himself at his Tema Community 18, Borteyman residence.
Due to this alarming trend, GBC News took to the streets of Accra to seek the views of the public on the possible causes of the menace and how best it can be curbed.
A Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Derrick Oppong, says the trend of suicide cases recorded among the police leaves much to be desired.
According to him, the issue should present an opportunity for the police administration to take a critical look at the welfare and other issues of its personnel seriously as the institution is a sensitive one.
Speaking to GBC News, Dr. Oppong, said lack of detailed information has made it difficult to identify the exact reason behind suicide cases by Police officers.
He said the job of the police is high risk, therefore if other factors such as financial and family problems come into play it makes their situation more complicated.
For his part, the Executive Director of Basic Needs, an NGO on Mental Health, Peter Yaro, has expressed worry over continuous suicide cases among police personnel lately with the recent one recorded yesterday.
According to him, the Police force is an important institution where issues of mental health should not be relegated to the background.
Speaking to GBC News, Mr. Yaro said recent suicide cases should be a wake-up call to the Police Service to conduct critical mental assessment of its personnel to avoid future occurrences.
Mr. Yaro advised family and friends to be extra vigilant to observe changes in pattern and behavior of persons who may have suicidal thoughts.
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