TY - JOUR
T1 - To Keep the Law or to Repeal It
T2 - Views of Parliamentarians On the Call to Decriminalise Attempted Suicide in Ghana
AU - Quarshie, Emmanuel Nii Boye
AU - Oppong Asante, Kwaku
AU - Andoh-Arthur, Johnny
AU - Akotia, Charity Sylvia
AU - Osafo, Joseph
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - anti-suicide law
KW - attempted suicide
KW - decriminalisation
KW - members of parliament
KW - suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122148224&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/00302228211066683
DO - 10.1177/00302228211066683
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85122148224
SN - 0030-2228
VL - 89
SP - 39
EP - 56
JO - Omega (United States)
JF - Omega (United States)
IS - 1
ER -