Taking the HIV test in public was my suicidal note to the world; I couldn’t take it anymore. – Joyce Dzidzor Mensah

Former AIDS Ambassador and actress, Joyce Dzidzor Mensah has revealed her struggles with suicidal thoughts amidst criticism surrounding her HIV status. 

Joyce, who previously denied being HIV-positive, took a public HIV test in June 2021 upon her return from Germany to dispel doubts. To her dismay, the test returned positive.

In a candid interview on Onua FM’s Efie Ne Fie, the actress-turned-musician admitted that she had contemplated suicide due to the intense public scrutiny and insults regarding her HIV status. She went on to confess that her initial plan was to end her life after the public test, but she received assistance from someone in Germany, leading her to reconsider.

Reflecting on her darkest moments, Joyce disclosed by saying; “I did that test with the intention that afterward I was going to commit suicide but I changed my mind because I got help from Germany. I was just leaving suicide notes behind through my actions on social media but I got help.”

The former AIDS ambassador further revealed that the individual who reached out to her emphasized the importance of her role as a mother, urging her to consider the impact her death would have on her children.

“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,” she added.