Browsing by Author "Asare-Doku, W."
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Item Comparing the reasons for suicide from attempt survivors and their families in Ghana(BMC Public Health, 2019-04) Asare-Doku, W.; Osafo, J.; Akotia, C.S.Background Family members are key in detecting early suicide warning signs. This study compared the reasons for suicidality as reported by attempt survivors with their family folks in Ghana. Methods A qualitative design was used to select a sample size of 20 (10 family members and 10 suicide attempt survivors). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Analysis of the data showed two major themes: 1) Similar Reasons (where both families and attempt survivors consistently reported similar reasons for suicidality and 2) Different Reasons (where there were sharp divergences). Conclusions Findings from this study help to understand the readiness of attempt survivor family members to intervene early during suicidal crisis.Item Experiences and Coping Mechanisms of Suicide Attempters and Their Families in Ghana: A Mixed Method Approach(University of Ghana, 2015-07) Asare-Doku, W.; Osafo, J.; Akotia, C.To understand the experiences and coping mechanisms of suicide attempters and their families in Ghana, 20 (10 attempters and 10 family members) persons were sampled in the aftermath of suicide attempts at the Psychiatry Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The convergent parallel design was used and participants were interviewed on their experiences and coping mechanisms after the suicide attempt. For the quantitative section, participants were administered the africultural coping inventory and DASS scales and independent t test were used to analyze the data. The major coping mechanism was cognitive/debriefing coping followed by spiritual coping, however supportive network was generally weak and depression was high for suicide attempters. As regards the qualitative section, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings showed that the precipitants for suicide were largely interpersonal. Further attitudes towards suicidality were a mixture of condemnation and support. Finally, suicide survivors largely utilized spirituality in surviving the stress of the crisis following suicide. In conclusion the experiences of attempters and their families during suicidal crisis present a potential risks for completion. Suicidality thus continues to be influenced by cultural dynamics. Sociocultural theory, africultural coping theory and learned helplessness are used to explain some of the findings of this study. Implications for suicide prevention and clinical practice are also addressed.Item Exploring the role of religion in the recovery experiences of suicide attempt survivors in Ghana(BMC Psychiatry, 2023) Osafo, J.; Asare-Doku, W.; Akotia, C.S.Background Religion performs a doubled edged role in a suicide crisis. On the one hand, it elicits empathic responses towards suicidal persons. On the other, it condemns and shames them. Although there is evidence that religion promotes better health and general wellbeing, little attention has been given to its role in recovery, especially after a suicide attempt. The current study explored how religion facilitated recovery among suicide attempt survivors. Methods Using a semi-structured interview guide, we interviewed suicide attempt survivors who had attended a psychiatric unit. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Ten suicide attempters were interviewed, six females and four males. Three major themes were identified: Reasons in context, Religion in the recovery process and Renewed commitment to religious rituals/practices. Conclusions The role of religion in suicide prevention as a resource, is a complex one. Suicide preventionists need to carefully guide and gauge their prevention efforts in context where religion is rife to provide suicide attempt survivors the most effective religious resource in their recovery trajectory.Item “Mental health is not our core business”: A qualitative study of mental health supports in the Ghanaian mining industry(Safety Science, 2021) Asare-Doku, W.; Amponsah-Tawiah, K.; James, C.; et al.Background: There is growing recognition of mental health aspects of workplace health and safety. Mining is a significant enterprise in the African continent; however, limited attention has been given to mental health in mining in this region. Ghana is the largest gold producer in Africa and mining contributes significantly to the economy. Mental health problems can have significant implications for the wellbeing and safety of miners employees, yet little is known about this in diverse geographic and cultural contexts. This study aims to explore mental health and available supports from the perspective of managers in mining companies in Ghana. Methods: A qualitative descriptive methodology was used to collect in-depth information from managers of international mining companies in Ghana. After receiving institutional ethics approval, all managers from the five mine sites were invited to participate in an interview. All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis. Results: Three major themes were identified: Health Promotion, which explored health assessments and health promotion of onsite activities; on-site Support which included policy, human resources and medical supports; Thirdly, External support examined formal and informal supports such as family and social networks. Conclusion: Mental health was implied in various activities undertaken at the mine rather than being specific to targeting mental health directly. This study demonstrates the absence of mental health supports in mining. Ghana. Efforts should be made to incorporate mental health programs within the general health and safety policy, and an understanding of the local social norms and culture is vital.Item News Editors’ Views about Suicide and Suicide Stories in Ghana(Psychological Studies, 2019-08-26) Akotia, C.S.; Osafo, J.; Asare-Doku, W.; Boakye, K.E.Media reporting of suicide has attracted attention globally because it has the potential to trigger copycat suicides. The absence of a national policy on suicide prevention in Ghana has left the media landscape with uncensored publication of suicide stories. The aim of this study was to examine the views of media editors on suicide and the considerations that guide them in publishing suicide stories in the country. Fourteen media reporters and editors (10 males, 4 females) from three major media houses in Accra, the capital, between the ages of 26–48 participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of the results showed that considerations for publishing suicide stories included deterrence, didacticism, celebritism, and ethics. These considerations generally reflect the doubled-edged role of the media in suicide prevention: on the one hand, the media is a partner in public health education; but on the other hand, the media’s activities can be deleterious to all preventive efforts in public health education on suicide. Implications for gatekeeper training for media personnel in suicide prevention in Ghana are addressed.Item Online media reporting of suicidal behaviour in Ghana: Analysis of adherence to the WHO guidelines(SAGE, 2021) Quarshie, E.N.; Andoh-Arthur, J.; Asante, K.O.; Asare-Doku, W.Background: Irresponsible media reporting of suicide is a potential risk for copycat suicide. There is a paucity of studies from sub-Saharan Africa on the quality of media reporting of suicide. Objectives: We assessed the compliance of Ghanaian online media outlets with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for media reporting of suicide. Methods: We searched 10 local media outlets with strong online presence in Ghana, to identify suicide-related news reports from 2000 through 2019. We applied summative content analysis and chi-square (χ2 ) test to the data. Results: We included 288 news reports, of which 261 (90.6%) were completed suicides, 7 (2.4%) were attempted suicides and 20 (6.9%) were homicide suicides. Most of the news reports failed to comply with the WHO guidelines: 92.7% mentioned the specific method of the suicide act, 82.6% included ‘suicide’ in the headline and 55.6% included photos of the victims. The χ2 tests indicated that privately owned media outlets were more likely than publicly owned to post a photo of the victim, χ2 ( )1 =17.37, p<.001, and report the incident location in the headline, χ2 ( )1 =15.00, p<.001. However, generally, there were no statistically significant relationships between the quality of reporting and media outlet ownership. Each of the 288 reports failed to mention any of the potentially helpful features recommended by the WHO guidelines. Conclusion: Regardless of the ownership of the media outlet (whether private or publicly owned), mostly, the online reportage of suicidal behaviour in Ghana deviates sharply from the international recommended best practice by the WHO.Item Substance use disorders among adults during imprisonment in a medium security prison: Prevalence and risk indicators(Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health, 2023) Donnir, G.M.; Asare-Doku, W.; Boakye, K.E.Background: Research shows that the prevalence of substance use disorders among the prison population is high globally. Although prisons are highly controlled environments, access to drugs and other substances in prison remains a major problem. Yet, previous research is focused mainly on the Western context, with the studies gener ally reporting on lifetime prevalence without reference to whether the disorders are manifest even within the controlled environment. Aims: To estimate the prevalence of substance use disorders evident while in prison in Ghana and associated risk indicators. For these purposes, substance use disorder was defined by any indication of dependency, or escalating use or socially problematic use during the 12 months of imprisonment prior to the interview. Methods: The study involved 500 adults (443 men and 57 women) in a medium-security prison in Ghana who had served at least 1 year of a prison sentence. Participants' alcohol use disorder was assessed separately from other substance use disorders which included cannabis, cocaine and other stimulants using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI); it is a structured interview and diagnostic tool for major psychiatric and substance use disorders in DSM-5 and ICD-10. Results: Two percent of the 500 participants had used alco hol to the level of alcohol use disorder, and 6% had other substance use disorders in 12 months prior to interview and while in prison. Cannabis (4%) and stimulants (3%) were the most frequently reported substance use disorders. Logistic regression model estimates indicate that younger age, prior offending and alcohol use dependence were significantly associated with such disorders in prison. Conclusion: In spite of efforts to prevent substance use in prison, nearly one in 10 of these prisoners were using alcohol or illicit drugs to a level indicative of substance use disorders. Our findings suggest that prioritising brief assessment may help identify those in most need of clinical help to limit their alcohol and illicit substance use problems.Item Suicide attempts and deaths in older persons in Ghana: A media surveillance approach(Springer, 2021) Quarshie, E.N.; Asante, K.O.; Andoh-Arthur, J.; Asare-Doku, W.; Navelle, P.L.To explore the socio-demographic profiles and the key characteristics of nonfatal suicide attempts and suicide deaths in older persons in Ghana, content analysis was applied to 71 local media news reports between 2000 and 2017 on nonfatal suicide attempts and suicide deaths involving older persons. A disproportionately higher number of males (97.2%) aged 50–64 years with various agricultural occupational backgrounds died by suicide through the use of lethal means such as hanging, gunshot, and self-poisoning. Marriage and family problems; poverty and financial difficulties; evasion of dishonour and punishment; health problems; loss; interpersonal difficulties; and previous attempted suicide were the reasons for the behaviour. The findings are discussed within the integrated motivational-volitional model of suicide in older persons. The findings support the recent clarion call for a shift of research focus onto the mental health of (older) men in Ghana, and underscore the need to intensify general public education on recognising the warning signs of suicide and the lines of action to take to save older persons from suicide deaths.