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Suicide stigma in Ghana: examining the role of gender, culture, and attribution.

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Title: Suicide stigma in Ghana: examining the role of gender, culture, and attribution.
Authors: Gearing, Robin E. (AUTHOR), Brewer, Kathryne B. (AUTHOR), Boateng, Doris Akyere (AUTHOR), Washburn, Micki (AUTHOR), Asante, Rabiu Kwaku Boakye (AUTHOR), Fogel, Sondra J. (AUTHOR), Carr, L. Christian (AUTHOR), Savani, Shahnaz (AUTHOR), Robinson, Andrew (AUTHOR), Robbins, Susan P. (AUTHOR)
Source: International Journal of Mental Health. Dec2025, Vol. 54 Issue 4, p446-465. 20p.
Subjects: Empathy, Research funding, Diversity & inclusion policies, Suicidal ideation, Sex distribution, Culture, Statistical sampling, Responsibility, Descriptive statistics, Experimental design, Surveys, Suicide, Research, Data analysis software, Sociodemographic factors, Social support, Social stigma, Patients' attitudes
Geographic Terms: Ghana
Abstract: Until recently attempting suicidal was a crime in Ghana. Suicide stigma experiences in Ghana can lead individuals to conceal their condition, limit social interactions, and avoid help-seeking. This study therefore seeks to examine the factors influencing suicide stigma in Ghana to better understand and provide recommendations to reduce suicide stigma. In Accra and Tamale, Ghana, 197 adults were recruited to participate in a Qualtrics survey in English, Dagbani or Twi languages with an experimental vignette describing a suicidal individual, manipulated on gender and age, followed by questions eliciting attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs. The sample consisted of 92 females and 105 males with an average age of 33.2 years. This research examined the relationship between people's beliefs about the causes and personal responsibility of suicidal ideation and stigma. The canonical correlation analysis indicated significant explanatory variates explained approximately 20% of response variance for male participants and 18% for female participants. Findings underscore that targeting suicidal stigma requires a nuanced and multi-layered approach that acknowledges the roles of sociodemographic factors, cultural beliefs, and attribution regarding suicidal ideation. These findings support community-based stigma reduction efforts to help develop a comprehensive approach to foster greater empathy, inclusivity, and support for individuals living with suicidal ideation. Situating the findings within the broader literature, this study offers insights to guide future research on suicide stigma and mental health in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of International Journal of Mental Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Suicide stigma in Ghana: examining the role of gender, culture, and attribution.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gearing%2C+Robin+E%2E%22">Gearing, Robin E.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brewer%2C+Kathryne+B%2E%22">Brewer, Kathryne B.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Boateng%2C+Doris+Akyere%22">Boateng, Doris Akyere</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Washburn%2C+Micki%22">Washburn, Micki</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Asante%2C+Rabiu+Kwaku+Boakye%22">Asante, Rabiu Kwaku Boakye</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fogel%2C+Sondra+J%2E%22">Fogel, Sondra J.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carr%2C+L%2E+Christian%22">Carr, L. Christian</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Savani%2C+Shahnaz%22">Savani, Shahnaz</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Robinson%2C+Andrew%22">Robinson, Andrew</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Robbins%2C+Susan+P%2E%22">Robbins, Susan P.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: Until recently attempting suicidal was a crime in Ghana. Suicide stigma experiences in Ghana can lead individuals to conceal their condition, limit social interactions, and avoid help-seeking. This study therefore seeks to examine the factors influencing suicide stigma in Ghana to better understand and provide recommendations to reduce suicide stigma. In Accra and Tamale, Ghana, 197 adults were recruited to participate in a Qualtrics survey in English, Dagbani or Twi languages with an experimental vignette describing a suicidal individual, manipulated on gender and age, followed by questions eliciting attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs. The sample consisted of 92 females and 105 males with an average age of 33.2 years. This research examined the relationship between people's beliefs about the causes and personal responsibility of suicidal ideation and stigma. The canonical correlation analysis indicated significant explanatory variates explained approximately 20% of response variance for male participants and 18% for female participants. Findings underscore that targeting suicidal stigma requires a nuanced and multi-layered approach that acknowledges the roles of sociodemographic factors, cultural beliefs, and attribution regarding suicidal ideation. These findings support community-based stigma reduction efforts to help develop a comprehensive approach to foster greater empathy, inclusivity, and support for individuals living with suicidal ideation. Situating the findings within the broader literature, this study offers insights to guide future research on suicide stigma and mental health in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Mental Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/00207411.2025.2520420
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 446
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Empathy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Diversity & inclusion policies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Suicidal ideation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sex distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Culture
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistical sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Responsibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experimental design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surveys
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Suicide
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sociodemographic factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
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      – SubjectFull: Social stigma
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      – SubjectFull: Patients' attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ghana
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      – TitleFull: Suicide stigma in Ghana: examining the role of gender, culture, and attribution.
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              Text: Dec2025
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