A cultural look on suicide: the Yorùbá as a paradigmatic example

This conceptual review focuses on deepening the cultural perspective on suicidal behaviour and suicide prevention using a specific cultural group (the Yorùbá) as a paradigmatic example. We examine the social/cultural cognitions in Yorùbá that are ingrained in concepts of dishonour, shame, and mascul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mental health, religion & culture
Authors: Atilola, Olayinka (Author) ; Ayinde, Olatunde (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Taylor & Francis 2015
In: Mental health, religion & culture
Further subjects:B Yoruba
B Suicide
B Culture
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:This conceptual review focuses on deepening the cultural perspective on suicidal behaviour and suicide prevention using a specific cultural group (the Yorùbá) as a paradigmatic example. We examine the social/cultural cognitions in Yorùbá that are ingrained in concepts of dishonour, shame, and masculine ethos, and the way these may contribute to the phenomenology of suicidal behaviours in Yorùbá communities. We also addressed the limitations of some widely accepted frameworks in suicide research, in particular, the emphasis on neurobiological conditions as risk factor for suicidal behaviour and the focus on hopelessness as a specific (social) cognition that leads to suicidal volition. Lessons learnt include the possibility of specific "culture-bound" cognitive motivators for suicidal behaviours among the Yorùbá which may be unrecognised but potentially rewarding focus of cognitive-behavioural therapy and other prevention strategies. A general need for contextualised application of universal suicidology research findings when working in specific socio-cultural milieu is emphasised.
ISSN:1469-9737
Contains:Enthalten in: Mental health, religion & culture
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2015.1077212