Qualitative Psychological Autopsy Interviews on Suicide in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda

The Participants' Perceptions

Bibliographic Data

ID13627752
AuthorsDorothy Kizza (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Butabika National Referral and Teaching Mental Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, corresponding author), Heidi Hjelmeland (0000-0003-4745-4301, Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Eugene Kinyanda (0000-0001-7068-9294, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe), Birthe Loa Knizek (0000-0002-5952-9895, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim)
Year2011
Volume63
Issue3
Pages235-254
Publication date2011-08-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2190/om.63.3.c
PMID21928598
OpenAlexW1988101459
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited27

Participants' perceptions of psychological autopsy interviews were investigated in post-conflict Northern Uganda. Data were derived out of their responses in the debriefing session after the formal interviews. These responses were subjected to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The majority of the participants were positive about the interview as reflected in the two broad themes: positivation of the situation through the possibility of helping others and opportunity for personal development through sharing. To some few participants the interview aroused guilt, self-reproach, and anger and reactivated painful memories. As regards suicide postvention, the findings implied that not much has been done to help the bereaved by suicide in this region, and few resources for such efforts are currently available. However, the bereaved are ready to contribute toward the fight against suicide in their communities. Hence, it is argued that a community-based mental health and Primary Health Care approaches should be encouraged in this context

Anger · Context (archaeology · Debriefing · Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Mental health · Perception · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Sociology · Clinical Psychology · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Social Psychology