Social inequality is cause of suicide – Sociologist

Dr Dan-Bright Dzorgbo, Head of the Sociology Department of the University of Ghana has stated that the rising cases of suicide in Ghana was as a result of social inequality due to the wide gap between the rich and the poor.

He explained that even though Ghana could be classified as a lower middle-income country, only few people in the country were economically satisfied, leaving majority to wallow in abject poverty.

Dr Dzorgbo told the GNA in an interview on Monday that due to social mobility, majority of people strive to move up the social ladder and might contract loans, adding that, the inability to pay back due to disasters such as fire outbreaks sometimes resulted in suicide.

He said there were some hopelessness in the country without any social support mechanisms to address the needs of the disadvantaged, noting that the family system had also broken down and created individualistic societies where each one catered for herself/himself.

He stated that sociologically, suicide was becoming very common in Ghana because life was becoming very competitive adding that, “People move to urban environments trying to do something better but they are unable to meet the target…this can cause suicide.”

Dr Dzorgbo who is also a Senior Lecturer said in traditional societies like Ghana, most people who commit suicide might have done something wrong and might not want to expose themselves and thus commit suicide to end it all.

He said traditional support systems had become weak in the country especially as economic and social mobilities were becoming supreme and suggested the need for the academia to conduct research to ascertain the facts concerning the phenomena.

Dr Dzorgbo suggested to the government to introduce social protection policies to assist the less privileged in society to overcome problems, noting that, insurance policies must equally be introduced to aid people.

Source: GNA