Trends of online news media reported suicides in Ghana (1997-2019).

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ID: 82644
2020
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Abstract
Suicides have become headline news in most developing countries and often feature on front pages with accompanying graphic pictures on prominent news portals. There has been an increased reportage of suicides by the Ghanaian news media. This study aims to shed light on the trend of online news media reporting of suicides, and the epidemiology of media reported suicides in Ghana.An online search was conducted for news media reports of suicides committed in Ghana. One hundred and forty-two (142) news media reported suicides spanning 1997 to 31st July 2019 were retrieved and included in the analyses.The victims of suicides were predominantly male (85.92%), young (mean age = 34.81 ± 15.71 years; range 10-86 years). Suicide by hanging (67.94%), the use of firearms (18.32%), and self-poisoning (8.93%) were the common methods used by the victims. There has been increased online news media reportage of suicides in Ghana in the last 3 years; 2017 witnessed the highest reportage of 30 (21%) cases. Marital or relationships and family problems were commonly cited as the reasons for the commission of suicides; mental disorders, and financial problems were also cited as immediate triggers of the suicides by close relations of the victims.There is an increased media reportage of suicides in Ghana, although this cannot be linked to a corresponding increase in suicide incidence. Interventions to decrease the risk of suicide among vulnerable populations (young adults) such as the identification of suicidal behavior, making mental healthcare services more accessible by integrating into the general healthcare service, public education, establishing a suicide hotline will be critical programs to help reduce suicide incidence in Ghana.
Reference Key
abdulai2020trendsbmc Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Abdulai, Tanko;
Journal BMC public health
Year 2020
DOI
10.1186/s12889-020-8149-3
URL
Keywords
suicide ghana online news media

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