To Keep the Law or to Repeal It: Views of Parliamentarians On the Call to Decriminalise Attempted Suicide in Ghana
Loading...
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying
Abstract
We explored the views of members of parliament (MPs) in Ghana on the call to
decriminalise attempted suicide. We applied reflexive thematic analysis to Parlia mentary Hansards (2017–2020) on calls to decriminalise attempted suicide in Ghana.
11 MPs shared their stance for or against the call. We developed three major themes
that entailed, often, opposing views: (1) deterrent effect of the law (against: the law
punishes and deters to protect life; for: the law is insensitive and has ironic effects), (2)
enforcement of the law (against: leave things as they are, the law is not enforced,
anyway; for: crime is not self-inflicted) and (3) prioritisation of suicide prevention
(against: focus on more pressing issues, but resource support systems; for: the law and
legitimate support systems cannot co-exist). The findings indicate two needs: to extend
suicide literacy to Ghanaian MPs, and to initiate a public/private member’s bill on
attempted suicide decriminalisation.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
anti-suicide law, attempted suicide, decriminalisation, members of parliament, suicide