Suicidal thoughts can be reduced by engaging in recreational activities

Mr. Pious Tay, the Tema Metro Health Directorate's Mental Health Coordinator, has stated that engaging in recreational and physical activities can help reduce suicidal thoughts.

Mr. Tay outlined many strategies for preventing suicidal thoughts, saying that focusing one's energy on uncharted territory or leisure activities can help to clear the mind of such thoughts.

The participation of a person in leisure activities, charitable activities, new professional pursuits, or new knowledge pursuits will assist in soothing one's mind, he emphasized, as depression is frequently linked to suicide.

The Tema Metro Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Services has joined forces with the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office to engage in a month of relentless public advocacy to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an awareness day always observed on September 10th, every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world since 2003.

Speaking on the topic "Depression," during an engagement at the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office health project "Your Health: Our Collective Responsibility" as a major platform to help educate the public and promote domestic action to prevent suicides, Mr. Tay emphasized that suicides are preventable.

The weekly "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility! A Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office initiative aimed at promoting health-related communication and providing a platform for health information dissemination to influence personal health choices through improved health literacy

The Ghana News Agency's Tema Regional Office developed the public health advocacy platform "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility" to investigate the components of four health communication approaches: informing, instructing, convincing, and promoting.

Mr. Tay stated that "diversional therapy," in which one's thoughts are redirected into doing new tasks, helps the person. Suicide is typically accompanied by millions of thoughts about a problem that constantly confronts the person.

He emphasized once more the importance of finding a trusted confidant to whom one can physically confide and hold discussions, even though social media platforms may occasionally help a person deal with suicidal thoughts or melancholy.

With continued physical or recreational action and positive thoughts, he emphasized, suicidal ideas get weaker. He said that over time, this exercise diminishes suicidal thoughts and eliminates all negative thoughts.

"Walking, having wholesome conversations, picking up a skill, and participating in community activities can also help in the prevention of suicide or depression," he declared.

The community, parents, siblings, and others should keep an eye out for certain signs in their children, siblings, or the community in order to prevent a person from committing suicide, according to Mr. Tay, who noted that the fight against suicide remained a collective task because every individual is responsible for containing and minimizing the situation.

He recommended everyone focus their energies on creating new things, finding confidants and individuals they can trust, and, most importantly, being approachable and aware of their surroundings.

He said that everyone has access to mental health services and facilities, not just those with mental problems.

The International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP) originally created World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), and Tema Metro Health Director Dr. Sally Quartey remarked that this year's awareness-raising is focused on the universal subject "Creating Hope through Action."

Dr. Quartey emphasized that suicide is a big problem in public health that can have a long-lasting effect on individuals, families, and communities. She also pointed out that suicide can be prevented because it requires initiatives at all societal levels.

She noted that everyone may help prevent suicide by becoming aware of the warning signs, promoting prevention and resilience, and committed to societal change.