Ghanaian actress and former AIDS Ambassador, Joyce Dzidzor Mensah, recently opened up about a difficult period in her life where she battled suicidal thoughts amidst harsh criticism for previously lying about her HIV status.
In June 2021, after returning from Germany, Joyce decided to undergo a public HIV test in an attempt to prove her status and silence the doubters. The test results confirmed that she was indeed HIV-positive, a truth she had previously denied until 2019.
During a heartfelt conversation on Onua FM’s Efie Ne Fie, Joyce revealed that the overwhelming backlash and insults from the public drove her to contemplate suicide. She confessed that her initial plan after the public test was to end her life, but she received crucial support from someone in Germany which encouraged her to reconsider.
“The person advised me that I have children who need me and even if I do not love myself, I have children and should think about what they will go through when I die,” Joyce shared. This advice made her reflect on the impact her actions would have on her children and reconsider her decision.
Joyce Dzidzor Mensah was appointed as an HIV campaigner by the Ghana AIDS Commission in 2011 due to her HIV-positive status since 2007. However, her denial of this status in 2014 resulted in the termination of her contract and public outcry. The pressure of the continuous criticism eventually led her to undergo the public test in 2021.
Despite the challenges she has faced and the mistakes she has made, Joyce remains determined to use her platform to raise awareness about HIV and the importance of mental health. Her story serves as a reminder that everyone deserves compassion and understanding, especially during their darkest moments.
