From condemnation to understanding: Views on suicidal behavior in Ghana in transition.
Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
The cultural context in which suicide occurs has been emphasized as critical in understanding the act and informing prevention. Yet the penchant of psychiatrizing suicidality in mainstream suicidology relegates cultural issues to the background. Through the lenses of critical cultural suicidology, the authors have re-emphasized the importance of culture by reviewing the two major meanings of suicide as observed in our 8-year study in Ghana: moral transgression and life crisis. They have also showed the usefulness of the life crisis perspective of suicidality in reducing stigma and sustaining advocacy in decriminalizing attempted suicide in the country.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
suicide, cultural context, Ghana
Citation
oseph Osafo, Charity S. Akotia, Heidi Hjelmeland & Birthe L. Knizek (2017) From condemnation to understanding: Views on suicidal behavior in Ghana in transition, Death Studies, 41:8, 532-541, DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2017.1333357