%0 Journal Article
%T Suicidal behaviors in the Ghana Police Service
%J Crisis
%D 2020
%A Quarshie, Emmanuel Nii-Boye
%A Odame, Samuel Kofi
%A Annor, Francis
%V ePub
%N ePub
%P ePub-ePub
%X BACKGROUND: Despite recent media reports showing disturbing trends of police suicides in Ghana, no published studies are available from the country. Aims: We sought to estimate the prevalence and describe some of the correlates of suicidal behaviors among police officers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. <br><br>METHOD: We surveyed a convenience sample of 268 police officers, using the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-Revised to assess suicidal ideation, planning, threat, and attempt. <br><br>RESULTS: Whereas lifetime suicidal ideation (28%), planning (3%), threat (21.6%), and 12-month suicidal ideation (26.9%) were reported, no participating police officer reported ever attempting suicide. Moonlighting showed the strongest statistically significant association with 12-month suicidal ideation, while age, marital status, and job satisfaction also emerged as statistically significant correlates of suicidal ideation. Limitations: The busy nature of police work precluded random selection. The criminalized and tabooed status of attempted suicide in Ghana might have led participants to provide guarded and socially desirable responses. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Intervention efforts are needed to prevent the onset of suicidal ideation and possible transition to suicide among police officers in Ghana.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Hogrefe Publishing
%@ 0227-5910
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000707