School Based Suicide Prevention Campaigns

In the year 2016, suicide attempts reported at the hospitals especially in the Accra Metropolitan catchment areas among adolescents were on the increase. Upon investigations, the suicide attempted cases presented at the hospitals involved adolescents in the age range of 15-19 years. Worldwide reports gathered during this period indicated suicide was one of the leading causes of death among those in the most productive age group (15-44 years), and the second leading cause of death among 15 to 19 year age group.

This became a concern and prompted the UnleashYou team to embark on a suicide prevention campaign at the senior high schools to create awareness. The campaign was dubbed ‘SAVE A YOUNG LIFE TODAY’. The goal of the campaign was to create awareness and reduce suicide among adolescents within the Accra Metropolitan area by 50% at the end of the year 2016.

Among the schools that the campaign was held included Kinbu Senior High School and Presbyterian Boys Senior High School in Accra. Power point presentations and real life scenarios were used to explain the causes, how to identify at risk students and how to reach out to those who might be at risk. Pre and post test questionnaires were also administered to the students to ascertain their understanding of suicide.

The Students participation and involvement during the pre-test, question-time and post-test were overwhelming as more than half of the students expressed their understanding of suicide and their readiness to reach out to those who are vulnerable and might be at risk at school, home or in their neighbourhood.