Ghana • Help & Support
Bereavement support in Ghana: first days, crisis moments, sleepless nights, guilt, trauma reactions, wake keeping, one-week, hometown burial travel, family conflict, financial pressure — practical steps and where to get help
Last reviewed: 23 Feb 2026
Warm, but clinically grounded
Red flags: choose urgent or professional help sooner
- Strong self-harm urges, a plan, or access to means
- 3+ nights of little/no sleep with worsening panic, confusion, or impulsivity
- Feeling detached from reality in a way that feels unsafe (severe dissociation)
- Alcohol use is increasing, or you can’t sleep without drinking
- After a sudden/violent death: intrusive images/flashbacks that won’t stop
If danger is immediate: Urgent. If one line is busy, switch to another number — connection is the goal.
10 seconds (that’s enough)
Choose your situation (reduce information overload)
I need safety right now
Self-harm risk, violence risk, can’t cope
Go →
Nights are dangerous / insomnia
10-minute ‘tonight plan’
Go →
Money pressure is crushing me
Funeral costs + social protection routing
Go →
No private space / language barrier
Quiet scripts + language access
Go →
After the funeral I’m worse
The ‘drop’ + 4-week minimum plan
Go →
On this page
- Urgent: safety first
- First days: minimum survival plan
- Insomnia/panic nights: 10-minute plan
- Access: language + privacy + disability
- Financial pressure after bereavement
- If thoughts of disappearing appear
- After the funeral: the ‘drop’ + 4-week plan
- Ghana realities: wake keeping, one-week, travel, family
- Stages (a map, not a rule)
- LGBTQ+ / excluded grief
- Contacts: emergency, crisis, youth, financial, protection
- FAQ
If you need practical next steps (documents, registrations, logistics), start here: What to do after a death.
Urgent: when you need safety right now (Ghana)
If you feel unsafe, choose safety — life comes first
If self-harm urges are rising, you can’t control impulses, there’s violence risk, or panic feels physically dangerous, use emergency channels now.
- Emergency dispatch: 112
- National emergency: 999
- Ghana Police: 191 / 18555
Short script (read as-is): “Someone close to me has died. I don’t feel safe right now and I shouldn’t be alone. I need immediate help.”
If you’re unsure whether it “counts,” choose the safer option anyway.
Emergency numbers
Emergency Response Centre (All security & emergency services) — 112
If you need urgent emergency help and don’t know which service to call, or you can’t get through on other lines. Use for immediate danger.
Call: 112
If you can, also try 999 and Ghana Police 191/18555. If danger is immediate, ask someone near you to call too.
National Emergency — 999
Life-threatening medical emergency, serious injury, severe chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, or immediate danger requiring emergency response.
Call: 999
If you can’t get through, switch to 112 and Ghana Police 191/18555.
First days: a minimum plan to get through shock
Early grief often hits the body first. The goal is not “doing grief correctly.” The goal is building a minimum safety floor for today.
The 72-hour rule: reducing tasks is the correct move
- Water + one bite (soup, bread, banana) — tiny counts
- Lie down (sleep or not; lying down lowers arousal)
- Pick one “coordinator” for calls/visitors/logistics
- Only 3 tasks per day (everything else waits)
- Delay big decisions (quitting, moving, major conflict moves)
If funeral logistics are intense (wake keeping, meetings, travel)
It’s easy to run on adrenaline. Your body still needs fuel and rest. Rest is not disrespect.
One line is enough: “I need to step out and rest for a moment.”
1-minute note (when your brain won’t work)
- Right now I feel: numb / anxious / sleepless / crying / empty (pick one)
- My minimum today: water + one bite + lie down
- One person to contact: ______
- If I feel unsafe: 112/999 or 191/18555
Insomnia/panic nights: the 10-minute “tonight plan”
Nights amplify grief. Don’t argue with feelings; lower your nervous-system arousal. If you’re in immediate danger, go to Urgent.
10-minute plan (in order)
- Breath: inhale 4, exhale 6 (10 rounds)
- Cold: wash face/hands with cool water or hold something cold for 30–60 seconds
- Ground: press feet into the floor 10 times — “I’m here”
- Sentence: “This is a wave. It will come down.”
- Don’t be alone: text: “Can you stay with me for 10 minutes?”
If starting is too hard
If risk rises: connect
Call the Mental Health Authority line (0800 678 678). If you feel unsafe now, switch to 112/999 or 191/18555.
Access: language + privacy + disability
Need help in your language?
Ghana has many languages. If you don’t speak English (or a shared language) comfortably, use a simple sentence when calling:
“I need someone who speaks [language].”
If possible, ask a trusted person to help you call and stay with you during the conversation. If danger is immediate, call 112/999 first.
No private space to talk (quiet options)
- Step outside / to a corridor for 1–2 minutes
- Bathroom breathing: 10 long exhales (exhale longer than inhale)
- Ask a trusted person to place the call; you listen on speaker
- Send a single line: “I’m not safe alone tonight.”
If you are deaf or hard of hearing
Emergency SMS accessibility can be limited. If you need urgent help:
- Ask someone nearby to call 112/999 for you
- Text a trusted person to call 191/18555 on your behalf
- If you’re alone and in danger, go to the nearest police station or hospital if possible
Financial pressure after bereavement (common — and help exists)
Funeral costs, travel “home,” and expected contributions can become a major trigger — especially if you also lost a breadwinner. Financial stress is real grief stress.
If money pressure is spiking panic or hopelessness
Start with one routing call. You don’t have to solve everything today.
If financial stress triggers thoughts of disappearing, treat it as a crisis: call 0800 678 678 or (if unsafe) 112/999.
Financial and social protection routes
MoGCSP Helpline of Hope (routing for social protection & assistance) — 0800-800-800 / 0800-900-900
If funeral costs, loss of a breadwinner, rent, school costs, or basic needs are overwhelming, start here for routing to social protection support and local services.
Call: 0800-800-800•0800-900-900
If financial stress is pushing you toward thoughts of disappearing, treat it like a crisis: call 0800 678 678 or (if unsafe) 112/999.
LEAP (Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty) — via District Social Welfare / LEAP contacts
Cash transfer programme for extremely poor households. If a death has destabilised the household, ask for assessment/routing via your District Social Welfare office.
Call: +233 303 969 399•+233 303 969 700
If you don’t know your district office, start with Helpline of Hope (0800-800-800 / 0800-900-900) and ask to be routed to Social Welfare / LEAP information.
Funeral contributions pressure — you can set limits
It’s common to feel crushed by expected contributions. You are allowed to give what you can afford, pause requests, or assign someone else to handle money conversations.
Boundary script: “Thank you — we’ll share details later. Please speak to [name] about contributions.” If pressure becomes threats, switch to safety (112/999/191).
If thoughts of “disappearing” show up
Often this thought means “I want the pain to stop.” You can lower intensity — and connection matters more than perfect words.
Three steps (short)
- Don’t be alone: connect to one person
- 10 minutes: tonight plan (breath → cold → ground → sentence)
- Support: 0800 678 678 (and if unsafe: 112/999 or 191/18555)
High-risk combination (switch to urgent)
If you have a plan, access to means, strong impulsive urges, alcohol, and multiple nights of insomnia together — risk rises fast. Call 112/999 or 191/18555 now.
After the funeral: the “drop” + a 4-week minimum plan
When people leave and ceremonies quiet, grief can get louder. This is common. Small structure protects you.
4-week minimum plan (enough to stabilise)
- One weekly check-in (same day/time; 10 minutes counts)
- Reduce obligations for 2 weeks (new projects, extra roles)
- Daily basics: water + one bite + lie down (count as success)
- Keep the night plan + numbers visible
Regional variations are real
If you feel ‘everyone moved on’
You can say: “I’m functioning outside, but inside I’m still struggling.”
Ghana realities: wake keeping, one-week, travel, family, boundaries
Funeral pressure (wake keeping, meetings, contributions) — protect your body
- Choose a ‘coordinator’ for calls, visitors, and schedule decisions (one voice reduces chaos).
- Micro-breaks count: 10 minutes outside, drink water, unclench shoulders, slow exhale.
- If you can’t do all-night wake keeping, you’re allowed to rest: “I need to step out and lie down. I’ll be back.”
- Keep a small survival kit: water, snack, medication, tissues, power bank, simple clothing.
The “one-week” observation (a common grief spike)
- It’s normal if pain returns strongly — it doesn’t mean you’re failing.
- Protect rest before and after: eat something small, hydrate, and plan a short quiet window.
- Have an exit plan: a phrase + a person who can walk you out if overwhelm hits.
Traveling “home” for burial (fatigue + conflict risk)
- Long journeys + crowded homes can drain you completely. Hydrate during travel and plan 30–60 minutes alone daily if possible.
- If conflict rises, step away and call a trusted friend outside the situation (reduces escalation).
- If threats or violence appear: switch to safety (112/999 or 191/18555).
Family conflict (customary expectations, money, decisions)
- If conflict becomes threatening, shift from grief management to safety management.
- Use one boundary sentence: “I can’t decide this right now. Please speak to [coordinator name].”
- If you feel unsafe, call 112/999 or Ghana Police 191/18555. Abuse support: DOVVSU 055-100-0900.
“Be strong” culture — you can be strong and still ask for help
- Strength can mean: “I need someone with me tonight.”
- If advice overwhelms you: “Thank you. Right now I need quiet support, not solutions.”
- Let one or two people carry the messaging; too many voices increases stress.
If pressure becomes unsafe
Stages (a map, not a rule)
Grief isn’t linear. You may move back and forth. This “map” is here to reduce self-blame and add orientation — not to judge you.
Stage 1: Shock / numbness (hours → weeks)
You may feel unreal, blank, or strangely calm — or the opposite: constant tears. These can be normal nervous-system responses to shock.
Common reactions
- numbness or disbelief
- sleep disruption
- loss of appetite
- panic waves
- memory gaps / ‘fog’
Stage 2: Replaying / ‘if only’ (weeks → months)
The mind replays events to try to regain control. This is common after sudden death and high-pressure funeral logistics.
Common reactions
- ‘if I had…’ loops
- irritability
- anxiety spikes
- avoidance
- insomnia
If guilt turns into self-punishment (“I should die / I deserve harm”), treat it as a crisis pattern — get help fast.
Stage 3: After the funeral, the drop (months → year)
When ceremonies end and people leave, grief can intensify. The body exits ‘emergency mode’ and the emptiness can hit hard.
Common reactions
- heavy emptiness
- loneliness
- tear waves
- fatigue
- loss of interest
Triggers can include the one-week observation, anniversaries, birthdays, and returning to the family home. Bigger waves don’t mean you’re ‘back to zero.’
Stage 4: Rebuilding (often after a year, but varies)
This isn’t ‘forgetting’. It’s learning to carry love and loss together. Waves still come — but you recover faster.
Common reactions
- waves pass more quickly
- routine returns
- small future plans reappear
LGBTQ+ / excluded grief (rejection, exclusion, safety risk)
If your relationship is dismissed, you’re excluded from rites, or you fear violence, the grief can become grief + isolation. You deserve safety and support.
Priorities: safety → break isolation → protect sleep
- If danger is immediate: 112/999 or 191/18555
- Pick one safe ally (friend, colleague, chosen family) and reduce exposure to hostile spaces
- If nights become risky, call 0800 678 678 and ask for non-judgmental support
Support and safety note
LGBTQ+ grief + safety (rejection, exclusion from funeral rites, violence risk)
If your grief is compounded by family rejection, being excluded from funeral rites, or safety risks linked to identity, the pain can become grief + isolation. You still deserve support and safety.
If you are in immediate danger: 112/999 or Ghana Police 191/18555. If not immediate but you feel at risk or alone, call Mental Health Authority 0800 678 678 and ask for non-judgmental crisis support. Prioritise one safe ally and reduce exposure to hostile spaces.
Contacts (emergency + crisis + youth + financial + protection)
If one line is busy, switching is the correct move
Emergency
Emergency Response Centre (All security & emergency services) — 112
If you need urgent emergency help and don’t know which service to call, or you can’t get through on other lines. Use for immediate danger.
Call: 112
If you can, also try 999 and Ghana Police 191/18555. If danger is immediate, ask someone near you to call too.
National Emergency — 999
Life-threatening medical emergency, serious injury, severe chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, or immediate danger requiring emergency response.
Call: 999
If you can’t get through, switch to 112 and Ghana Police 191/18555.
Crisis mental health support
Mental Health Authority (Ghana) — Toll-free 0800 678 678
For crisis distress: suicidal thoughts, self-harm urges, panic that won’t settle, insomnia for days, trauma reactions after sudden/violent death, or when you feel you can’t stay safe alone.
Call: 0800 678 678
Hours: 24/7 (reported by major outlets; availability can vary)
If you feel unsafe right now, call 112/999 or Ghana Police 191/18555 first. If the line is busy, switch to 112/999 or retry shortly.
Trauma support (after sudden/violent death) — Mental Health Authority helpline
If you’re having flashbacks, numbness, derealisation, panic surges, nightmares, or intrusive images that won’t stop — early stabilisation and support reduces escalation.
Call: 0800 678 678
Hours: 24/7 (reported; availability can vary)
If you can’t stay safe, or you haven’t slept for 3+ nights with worsening panic/confusion/impulsivity: switch to 112/999 or 191/18555.
Youth / child protection routing
MoGCSP Helpline of Hope (Child protection + social protection routing) — 0800-800-800 / 0800-900-900
If a child/teen is in distress, at risk, or needs help routing: child protection, abuse concerns, exploitation, trafficking, child labour, or urgent social support needs after bereavement.
Call: 0800-800-800•0800-900-900
If a young person is at immediate risk of harm, use 112/999 or Ghana Police 191/18555 first.
School counsellor / Guidance & Counselling unit (if the child is in school)
Schools may provide immediate support, monitoring, and referral. If grief is affecting attendance, sleep, or behaviour, ask for a referral early.
If a teen says “I want to die” or self-harms, treat it as urgent: 112/999 or Mental Health Authority 0800 678 678.
Financial & social protection routing
MoGCSP Helpline of Hope (routing for social protection & assistance) — 0800-800-800 / 0800-900-900
If funeral costs, loss of a breadwinner, rent, school costs, or basic needs are overwhelming, start here for routing to social protection support and local services.
Call: 0800-800-800•0800-900-900
If financial stress is pushing you toward thoughts of disappearing, treat it like a crisis: call 0800 678 678 or (if unsafe) 112/999.
LEAP (Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty) — via District Social Welfare / LEAP contacts
Cash transfer programme for extremely poor households. If a death has destabilised the household, ask for assessment/routing via your District Social Welfare office.
Call: +233 303 969 399•+233 303 969 700
If you don’t know your district office, start with Helpline of Hope (0800-800-800 / 0800-900-900) and ask to be routed to Social Welfare / LEAP information.
Funeral contributions pressure — you can set limits
It’s common to feel crushed by expected contributions. You are allowed to give what you can afford, pause requests, or assign someone else to handle money conversations.
Boundary script: “Thank you — we’ll share details later. Please speak to [name] about contributions.” If pressure becomes threats, switch to safety (112/999/191).
Safety, abuse, and protection
DOVVSU (Domestic Violence & Victims Support Unit) — 055-100-0900
Domestic violence, sexual violence, coercion, stalking, threats, or abuse during bereavement (including around funeral planning, money, or inheritance disputes).
Call: 055-100-0900
If you are in immediate danger, call 112/999 or Ghana Police 191/18555 first. When safe, DOVVSU can help route you to protection and support.
Ongoing support (entry points)
District/Regional Hospital / Emergency Department
If grief is pushing your body into danger: chest pain, fainting, severe breathing difficulty, severe confusion, dehydration, or persistent inability to sleep with escalating panic.
If symptoms feel life-threatening, call 112/999 (or 191/18555). If not immediate but worsening, seek same-day medical assessment.
District mental health team / community psychiatric nurse (via District Hospital)
Support availability varies by region. District hospitals often link to community psychiatric nurses or mental health coordinators for follow-up support and referrals.
If you don’t know where to start: call the Mental Health Authority helpline (0800 678 678) or your District Hospital and ask for the mental health unit.
Trusted faith/community leader + one practical ally
Many people in Ghana lean on church/mosque/community networks. Choose one emotionally safe person and one ‘logistics person’ — do not spread yourself across many voices.
If support becomes pressure (“be strong”, “stop crying”, “do everything”), you’re allowed to set limits. Safety and sleep are not disrespect.
Related pages: What to do after a death • Planning a funeral • Legal steps • Ghana • Help & Support
This page provides information and support guidance and does not replace emergency or medical services. If you are in immediate danger, call 112/999 or 191/18555.
FAQ
How long does grief last?
There’s no fixed timeline. “Getting better” often means waves become more manageable and space to breathe increases — not that you forget. One-week, anniversaries, and returning home can trigger bigger waves; that can be normal.
If I’m functioning outside but falling apart inside, what should I do?
Choose one safe person for a weekly check-in, reduce obligations for two weeks, and keep the night plan visible. If sleep collapses for days or self-harm thoughts rise, choose support sooner: 0800 678 678, and if unsafe 112/999.
If I could do only one thing right now, what is it?
Drink water → do the 10-minute plan (breath/cold/ground) → don’t stay alone. If unsafe, call 112/999 or 191/18555. For crisis support, call 0800 678 678.
If numbers don’t connect