Better dead than dishonored: Masculinity and male suicidal behavior in contemporary Ghana

► The paper provides a rare analysis of police-recorded data on suicidal behavior in Ghana. ► The data indicate that suicidal behavior in Ghana overwhelmingly involved males. ► Ghanaian males exceeded their female counterparts in both fatal and non- fatal suicidal behavior. ► The pursuit of cultural notions of masculinity influences male suicidal behavior. ► Changing male-female gender roles and socialization may help reduce suicidal behavior in Ghanaian males.