Targeting suicide ‐ qualitative analysis of suicide prevention strategy documents in England and Finland
| Pages | 5-14 |
| Published date | 25 April 2011 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/mhrj.2011.0175 |
| Date | 25 April 2011 |
| Author | Pia Solin,Pirjo Nikander |
Mental Health Review Journal Volume 16 Issue 1 March 2011 © Pier Professional Ltd 5
Pia Solin
Researcher, MSocSc, School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland
Pirjo Nikander
Institute for Social Research, University of Tampere, Finland
Targeting suicide – qualitative
analysis of suicide prevention
strategy documents in England
and Finland
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.
Key words
Suicide prevention, mental health policy, qualitative content analysis, interpretative repertoire analysis.
Introduction
Suicide is a major public health issue,
comparable to deaths due to traffic accidents
(Jenkins et al, 2002), and constitutes one of the
largest public health risks (Lahtinen et al, 1999).
According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), the prevention of suicide and attempted
suicide is not always considered a priority
(World Health Organization, 1991). Despite a
slight and much welcomed increase in suicide
research, prevention policies still require a more
solid knowledge base to be effective (Lönnqvist
et al, 1993). Several national suicide prevention
strategies have been developed in the European
region and the growing problem of mental
health has led to actions establishing the Mental
Health Action Plan for Europe, which presents 12
challenges, including the prevention of suicide
(World Health Organization, 2005). This also
encouraged the European Union to take actions
towards a green paper for a strategy on mental
health for the European Union (Commission of
the European Communities, 2005).
Suicide as a phenomenon is n ot easily
defined, un derstood or prevented (Si ngh &
Jenkins, 20 00; De Leo, 2002). In addition to the
complexity o f background f actors, suicide carries
a long-last ing mental and social burden on
those left behind, as well a s direct an d indirect
consequences on the health sect or and soci ety
as a who le (De Leo, 2002; Ande rson & Jenk ins,
2005). The costs from suicide thus include both
the loss of productive years from premature
death and ‘substantial personal, psychological,
social, pol itical, cultur al and econ omic impact on
societies’ (Anderson & Jenkins, 2005 ).
RESEARCH
10.5042/mhrj.2011.0175
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