Article Transcultural Psychiatry 48(5) 1–19! The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1363461511419273 tps.sagepub.com

This qualitative study investigated attitudes and cultural responses to suicide among the Baganda in Uganda using both focus group discussions and key-informant interviews. Interviews indicate that suicide is perceived as dangerous to the whole family and the entire community. Communities and family members adopt various ritual practices to distance themselves both symbolically and socially from the suicide. These rituals are characterized by broad themes: the regulation of affect and the attempt to secure future generations. Keywords distancing, suicide, traditional mechanism, Uganda It is well established that suicide is culturally patterned and that its local perception is embedded in social norms and cultural beliefs (Stice & Canetto, 2008). Variations Corresponding author