The meanings of suicidal behaviour to psychology students in Ghana: a qualitative approach.
The objective of this study was to examine psychology students' attitudes toward suicidal behaviour and the meanings they assign to the act. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 final year psychology students at a university in Ghana. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the data. The results indicated that the students had a generalized negative attitude toward suicide. Religious beliefs and family harmony are cultural contexts influencing the interpretation of suicidal behaviour as breach of divine and communal moralities. The implications of these meanings of suicidal behaviour for suicide prevention in Ghana are discussed.
Department of Social Work and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway. joseph.osafo@samfunn.ntnu.no
Joseph
J
Osafo
Heidi
H
Hjelmeland
Charity S
CS
Akotia
Birthe Loa
BL
Knizek
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003469:Culture; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009014:Morals; D011584:Psychology / Q000193:education; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult