MPs want suicide attempts decriminalised
Members of Parliament (MPs) have called for the decriminalisation of attempted suicides to treat persons who attempt suicide instead of prosecuting and jailing them.
Advertisement
They said the offer of treatment would encourage persons harbouring the intention to commit suicide to come out to seek for support rather than hide their intentions.
The MPs made the call last Thursday in response to a statement by the MP for Oforikrom, Dr Emmanuel Marfo, regarding the recent suicide cases recorded in educational institutions.
Dr Marfo called for medical tests to be conducted in schools to ensure that students were sound physically and psychologically.
He again called for effective counselling for students to discourage frustrated students from deciding to end their lives.
The MP for Wa West, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, who is a former Minister of Health, said it was better to take steps immediately to treat persons who attempt suicide as patients and not criminals.
He called for the establishment of more counselling centres in schools to offer counselling to students.
The MP for Ablekuma West and Minister of Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, asked MPs to initiate a Private Members Bill to decriminalise suicide.
She suggested that community health programmes should be held to learn of the mental problems of people.
The MP for Effutu, Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, mentioned that people who attempt suicide need help, and that if the law is punitive they would want to end their lives.
He called for improved engagement between lecturers and students to guide the students and help them to overcome their weaknesses.
The MP for Manhyia South, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who is the Minister of Education, said he would intensify engagements with the relevant bodies to forestall the occurrence of suicide in schools.