Breaking the Silence: Suicide Risk, Stigma and Culturally Safe Intervention in African/Caribbean Communities

This session addresses suicide risk within Black, African, and Caribbean diaspora communities, where silence and stigma often stand between individuals and the help they need. Speakers will explore how cultural beliefs, faith, and generational attitudes shape the way suicide and mental distress are discussed (or avoided) within these communities, and offer clinicians and community members practical, culturally safe approaches to recognizing warning signs and intervening early.

Gloria Sarkodie Addo is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Community Mental Health and Rehabilitation Nursing, a Licensed Counselling Psychologist, mental health advocate, educator, researcher, and healthcare leader with over 19 years of professional experience.

She holds a BSc in Nursing, a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counselling Psychology, and specialist training in Community Mental Health and Rehabilitation Nursing through the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives (GCNM). She currently serves as a Clinical Coordinator with the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives (GCNM) and as a Part-Time Lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Cape Coast (UCC).

Gloria is the Founder of Soft Life Ghana, an organization dedicated to promoting mental wellbeing, psychosocial support, health education, community health screening, rehabilitation, and support for vulnerable individuals and families. She is also the Managing Director of NeuroVoc Africa, an organization providing Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP), employee wellness services, psychosocial rehabilitation, toxicology testing, and mental health support to individuals and organizations.

Her professional passion lies in community-based mental healthcare, psychosocial rehabilitation, workplace mental health, counselling, mental health promotion, nursing education, and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. Through her clinical practice, teaching, research, advocacy, and community initiatives, she continues to champion accessible and person-centered mental healthcare.