MORE YOUTH ATTEMPT SUICIDE (The Mirror, Saturday July 12, 2008 PAGE 15)

From Benjamin Xornam Glover, Navrongo

The number of cases of attempted suicide recorded in the Kassena-Nankana District of the Upper East Region is becoming alarming, especially the large number of youth involvement.
Statistics available at the Navrongo Police Station have revealed that four incidents of attempted suicide were reported between January and June this year.
Additionally, The Mirror investigations at the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital also revealed that 15 suicide cases were reported at the facility between September 2007 and May this year.
A half-year report made available to The Mirror by the district police showed that three of the cases involving the youth were reported in January this year, while the other one occurred in March 2008.
According to the Upper East Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, in all the cases recorded, the mode adopted by the culprits was drinking DDT, a poisonous substance.
He said the first incident, involving one Kanpawin Adia, occurred in January 10, 2008. Adia was later arrested and charged for attempted suicide.
The second incident occurred on January 12, 2008. However, no arrest was made.
The third case was recorded at 2:15 p.m. on January 31, 2008 and it involved one Mathew Amediko, while the fourth one took place on March 3 and the victim was one Alexander Akwopore.
Inspector Tetteh was, however, unable to assign any reasons for that disturbing trend.
The Senior Health Services Administrator of the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital, Mr Kofi Konlan, also told The Mirror that all the 15 people who attempted to take their lives and were rushed to the hospital were treated and discharged, stressing that no deaths were recorded at the facility. He confirmed that the mode of suicide was through the consumption of poisonous substances.
Some residents of Navrongo attributed the incidence of suicide to hopelessness and frustration, though they could not offer further explanation.