Abstract:
Suicide survivors in most cases develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which
can become chronic if not treated. The emotions survivors of suicide experience can
be devastating and this situation can negatively affect the way they function. The
study sought to explore lived experiences of survivors of suicide in the Kasena-
Nankana Municipality (KNM), Ghana. The study adopted phenomenological design
within the qualitative research approach. Ten survivors of suicide were selected using
purposive sampling technique. Interviews were used to gather data. Data were
analysed in themes. It was found that psychosocial problems, psychiatric problems,
previous suicide attempts and access to means of suicide were the themes to suicidal
thought among survivors of suicide in the KNM. Also, isolation and regression were
the effects attempted suicide survivors face on their social life. Again, positive and
negative coping strategies were used by survivors of suicide to cope with the
aftermath of their attempted suicide. Then more so, mass education and the
establishment of community counselling centres were the preventive measures that
can be put in place to minimize attempted suicide among suicide survivors in the
KNM. It was concluded that survivors of suicide do experience emotional distress
which may degenerate and create further distress for the attempters with risks for
suicide completion. Also, coping behaviours of suicidal persons are largely influenced
by cultural dynamics. It was recommended that there is the need to develop a national
policy on suicide prevention that examines the broader social dimensions of people’s
lives and how these may lead to distress and provide support in the form of suicide
helplines.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Counselling Psychology,
Faculty of Educational Studies, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Counselling Psychology)
in the University of Education, Winneba
DECEMBER, 2020