TY - JOUR
T1 - Police Views of Suicidal Persons and the Law Criminalizing Attempted Suicide in Ghana
T2 - A Qualitative Study With Policy Implications
AU - Osafo, Joseph
AU - Akotia, Charity S.
AU - Quarshie, Emmanuel N.B.
AU - Boakye, Kofi E.
AU - Andoh-Arthur, Johnny
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.
PY - 2017/9/1
Y1 - 2017/9/1
N2 - The penal code of Ghana condemns suicide attempt. The present study sought to explore the views of the police on persons who attempt suicide and the law criminalizing the act. Qualitative in-depth interviews were used to explore the views of 18 officers of the Ghana Police Service. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis technique. Findings showed that the police officers profiled suicide attempters as needy, enigmatic, ignorant, and blameworthy. Majority (n = 14) of them disagreed with the law and suggested a repeal, whereas only four of them agreed with the law. Regardless of their positions on criminalization, they showed an inclination to help, rather than arrest, when confronted with such persons in line of their duty. Educating the police on suicidal behavior may help to deepen their understanding and help improve the way they handle suicidal persons. This may also strengthen police suicide prevention gatekeeping obligations.
AB - The penal code of Ghana condemns suicide attempt. The present study sought to explore the views of the police on persons who attempt suicide and the law criminalizing the act. Qualitative in-depth interviews were used to explore the views of 18 officers of the Ghana Police Service. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis technique. Findings showed that the police officers profiled suicide attempters as needy, enigmatic, ignorant, and blameworthy. Majority (n = 14) of them disagreed with the law and suggested a repeal, whereas only four of them agreed with the law. Regardless of their positions on criminalization, they showed an inclination to help, rather than arrest, when confronted with such persons in line of their duty. Educating the police on suicidal behavior may help to deepen their understanding and help improve the way they handle suicidal persons. This may also strengthen police suicide prevention gatekeeping obligations.
KW - Ghana
KW - Ghana Police Service
KW - attempted suicide
KW - criminalization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030766415&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/2158244017731803
DO - 10.1177/2158244017731803
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85030766415
SN - 2158-2440
VL - 7
SP - 1
EP - 11
JO - SAGE Open
JF - SAGE Open
IS - 3
ER -