Anti-suicide themes in popular Ghanaian music

Abstract

The current article presents the results of a content analysis of a popular Ghanaian gospel song with anti-suicide themes and lyrics that have great potential to prevent suicidal behavior among listeners. The analysis was conducted against a backdrop of public intimations that suicide rates in the country were rising. The results of the analysis show that several lines in the lyrical text implore the listener to resist suicide while offering messages of patience, hope and encouragement, that can serve as preventative to suicide. It is impossible to quantify the full impact of the song on listeners and there is no way of knowing how many suicides have been prevented by the lyrical text of the song and the accompanying video presentation of events captured in the video. That the song has had a powerful impact on people who listen to it is evident in the listeners/viewers comments left at the site of the song/video. The final segment of the article provides excerpts from some individuals’ experiences with the song. The message of hope in the song, that things will get better has had a major effect on people.