Suicidal behaviour in children in Ghana: evidence from media reports

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• Attempted suicide
• children
• Ghana
• media reports
• suicide
• suicide attempt