To Keep the Law or to Repeal It
Views of Parliamentarians On the Call to Decriminalise Attempted Suicide in Ghana
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13628499 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie (0000-0002-8720-2355, University of Leeds, corresponding author), Kwaku Oppong Asante (0000-0002-0206-3326, Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana), Johnny Andoh-Arthur (0000-0002-7036-1835, Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana), Charity S Akotia (0000-0002-8572-8708, Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana), Joseph Osafo (0000-0003-4002-291X, Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 39-56 |
| Publication date | 2021-12-30 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00302228211066683 |
| PMID | 34967674 |
| OpenAlex | W4200152945 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 40 |
We explored the views of members of parliament (MPs) in Ghana on the call to decriminalise attempted suicide. We applied reflexive thematic analysis to Parliamentary 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
Political science · Repeal · Health and Conflict Studies · Homelessness and Social Issues · Law · Migration, Health and Trauma
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Police Views of Suicidal Persons and the Law Criminalizing Attempted Suicide in Ghana
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The prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviours (ideation, plan and attempt) among adolescents in senior high schools in Ghana
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Attempted Suicide in Ghana
Using thematic analysis in psychology
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Community leaders' attitudes towards and perceptions of suicide and suicide prevention in Ghana
Reasons for attempting suicide
The meanings of suicidal behaviour to psychology students in Ghana
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |