Citation

Solin P, Nikander P. Ment. Health Rev. J. (Brighton) 2011; 16(1): 5-14.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing)

DOI

10.5042/mhrj.2011.0175

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicide as a stigmatising issue presents a huge challenge for prevention policy. Also, policy itself is often difficult to turn into action. This research describes the interpretative repertoires found in the suicide prevention strategies of England and Finland, and explores their potential functions and audiences. It was found that the political repertoire was formed from four sub-repertoires: the public health epidemiology, the everyday, the preventive action and the reflective repertoires. This paper discusses the polyphonic and multilayered nature of these policy documents and how different repertoires may be used for various functions. The polyphonic nature of policy documents is necessary to reach a wide readership and to capture suicide as a controversial phenomenon. However, the downside is that the argumentative style may also undermine some of the measures and actions recommended. © Copyright - 2011 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide prevention; Mental health policy; Interpretative repertoire analysis; Qualitative content analysis