Suicidal behaviour in children in Ghana: evidence from media reports
There is a growing global concern that suicide research has paid less than enough attention to young children. We drew on local media reports (January 2000–March 2022) to provide initial descriptive evidence on attempted suicide and suicide among children aged 12 and younger in Ghana. We applied sum...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/27707571.2024.2365448 |
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| author | Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie Rhoda Egyir Sandra Naa-Shasha Quarshie Afua Mankosa Yirenkyi |
| author_facet | Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie Rhoda Egyir Sandra Naa-Shasha Quarshie Afua Mankosa Yirenkyi |
| author_sort | Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a growing global concern that suicide research has paid less than enough attention to young children. We drew on local media reports (January 2000–March 2022) to provide initial descriptive evidence on attempted suicide and suicide among children aged 12 and younger in Ghana. We applied summative content analysis to 30 eligible media reports (one attempted suicide and 29 suicides). We observed a discernible upward pattern in media reports of children suicide since 2015. Most of the suicides (n = 22) were boys. Hanging was the reported method of all the suicides. Parents and caregivers reported subtle or no warning sign of the suicides. While further research is needed globally on suicide among children, more studies are particularly needed from low and middle-income countries (including Ghana) to nuance our understanding of suicidal behaviour among this young population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-62a064ab11fb4121b6a379d207c3beb2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2770-7571 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-62a064ab11fb4121b6a379d207c3beb22025-08-20T03:44:41ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Public Health2770-75712024-12-0111110.1080/27707571.2024.2365448Suicidal behaviour in children in Ghana: evidence from media reportsEmmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie0Rhoda Egyir1Sandra Naa-Shasha Quarshie2Afua Mankosa Yirenkyi3Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaLedzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) Polyclinic, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaThere is a growing global concern that suicide research has paid less than enough attention to young children. We drew on local media reports (January 2000–March 2022) to provide initial descriptive evidence on attempted suicide and suicide among children aged 12 and younger in Ghana. We applied summative content analysis to 30 eligible media reports (one attempted suicide and 29 suicides). We observed a discernible upward pattern in media reports of children suicide since 2015. Most of the suicides (n = 22) were boys. Hanging was the reported method of all the suicides. Parents and caregivers reported subtle or no warning sign of the suicides. While further research is needed globally on suicide among children, more studies are particularly needed from low and middle-income countries (including Ghana) to nuance our understanding of suicidal behaviour among this young population.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/27707571.2024.2365448Attempted suicidechildrenGhanamedia reportssuicidesuicide attempt |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie Rhoda Egyir Sandra Naa-Shasha Quarshie Afua Mankosa Yirenkyi Suicidal behaviour in children in Ghana: evidence from media reports Cogent Public Health Attempted suicide children Ghana media reports suicide suicide attempt |
| title | Suicidal behaviour in children in Ghana: evidence from media reports |
| title_full | Suicidal behaviour in children in Ghana: evidence from media reports |
| title_fullStr | Suicidal behaviour in children in Ghana: evidence from media reports |
| title_full_unstemmed | Suicidal behaviour in children in Ghana: evidence from media reports |
| title_short | Suicidal behaviour in children in Ghana: evidence from media reports |
| title_sort | suicidal behaviour in children in ghana evidence from media reports |
| topic | Attempted suicide children Ghana media reports suicide suicide attempt |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/27707571.2024.2365448 |
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