title: Adolescent suicide in Ghana: a content analysis of media reports.
abstract: Adolescent suicide is now a major health concern for many countries. However, there is paucity of systematic studies and lack of official statistics on adolescent suicide in Ghana. Mass media coverage of adolescent suicide (even though crude), at least, may reflect the reality of the phenomenon. With an ecological orientation, this study used qualitative content analysis to analyse the pattern of 44 media reports of adolescent suicide in Ghana from January 2001 through September 2014. Results showed that hanging was the dominant method used. The behaviour usually takes place within or near the adolescent's home environment. The act was often attributed to precursors within the microsystem (family and school) of the deceased. This study serves a seminal function for future empirical studies aimed at deeper examination of the phenomenon in order to inform prevention programmes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Ghana-Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Nii-Boye
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Quarshie
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Ghana-Legon, Accra, Ghana; josaforo@hotmail.co.uk.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osafo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Ghana-Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Charity S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Akotia
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Ghana-Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peprah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005190:Family; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D009042:Motivation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012574:Schools; D013405:Suicide
keywords: Adolescent; Ghana; suicide