“It’s a sin against God”: understanding how Ghanaian adolescents frame suicide as sin, taboo, and crime
Ghanaian adolescents do not conceptualize suicide in singular terms. Their understandings are shaped by the interplay of religious, cultural, psychological, and institutional narratives. Suicide prevention must be grounded in these lived meanings and avoid one-size-fits-all approach. Preventive strategies should engage religious leaders, affirm community values, reduce mental health stigma, and provide safe spaces for adolescents to alleviate distress. Addressing the nuanced logics adolescents draw upon is essential to designing interventions that resonate with their realities.
Authors
- Enoch Azasu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1866-7765)
- Graham Zulu
- Elizabeth Ali
- Ali Lateef
- Sefakor Kpeklu
- Abass Tando Abubakar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5888-0237)
- Yaa Adutwumwaa Obeng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0465-5816)
Institutions
- Buffalo State University (US)
- University of Denver (US)
- University of Ghana (GH)
- Catholic University College of Ghana (GH)
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- Families USA (US)
- Yale University (US)
- Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health (CA)
- Memorial Health University Medical Center (US)
- High Throughput Biology (United States) (US)
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health
- Published
- 2026-02-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2025-0202
- Primary Topic
- Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00