Attitudes And Treatment Regimens In Suicide Prevention: The Role Of Religious Leaders In The Ga East Municipal District

ABSTRACT Reducing the loss of life due to suicide has become a critical international mental health goal. Several researches in the field of suicide prevention have focused on the role of medical facilities, schools and other local or state organizations and the role of religious leaders as gatekeepers has been overlooked. Using a qualitative approach, the study explored the attitudes of Christian, Islamic and Traditional religious leaders within the Ga East Municipal District of Ghana towards suicide, examined their treatment regimens and also assessed how they perceive their role in suicide prevention. Thematic analysis of transcribed data revealed that participants perceived suicide as abhorrent because life is sacrosanct and must be preserved. The motivations for attempting or committing suicide were also perceived by participants to be caused by both psychological and diabolical factors. Furthermore, participants detached their attitudes towards the suicidal person (someone who needs care) from suicide as an act (an act contradictory to their faith) and showed them care. The assessment of treatment regimens when they interact with suicidal persons showed that they create healing communities and also counsel and refer them for clinical and professional care. Besides the use of spiritual healing such as prayer and deliverance, participants also encourage social support and induce hope into suicidal persons to allay their fears through the use of religious or doctrinal teachings. Additional findings showed that the Ghanaian cultural setting abhors or perceives suicide as unacceptable hence the treatment regimens identified were more intervention based (i.e. employed only after suicidal persons have been identified) than prevention focused. Based on these findings, recommendations are made for possible improvement.