Men in despair: A qualitative psychological autopsy study of suicide in Northern Uganda

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 696-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Kizza ◽  
Birthe Loa Knizek ◽  
Eugene Kinyanda ◽  
Heidi Hjelmeland
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Northern Uganda ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
The Many

The psychosocial circumstances surrounding men’s suicide in postconflict Central Northern Uganda were investigated using qualitative psychological autopsy interviews. Records of 17 men who died by suicide were identified through police and local leaders in Internally Displaced Peoples’ camps of Amuru and Gulu Districts. Two to five significant others were interviewed around each case. Data were analyzed by interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Lost dignity and social value, lack of hope for the family’s future, overwhelming family responsibility, and mental illness were circumstances found to have preceded the suicides. The protracted war in the Northern region of Uganda left men in rural communities feeling disempowered and disenfranchised. This may have contributed to suicidal behavior in some of them. Suicide prevention in this area needs to be multidisciplinary with an emphasis on helping both men and women understand and deal with the many social changes that have evolved over time and affected their traditional roles and responsibilities.

Alcohol and Suicide in Postconflict Northern Uganda

Crisis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Kizza ◽  
Heidi Hjelmeland ◽  
Eugene Kinyanda ◽  
Birthe Loa Knizek
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Northern Uganda ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Alcohol Abusers ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Suicide Prevention Programs ◽  
Power Hierarchy

Background: Alcohol has been noted to be an important factor in nearly 68% of the suicides in Northern Uganda, yet exactly how alcohol contributes to suicide in this region has not been studied. Aims: To determine how alcohol contributes to suicide in this region. Methods: Qualitative psychological autopsy interviews were conducted with bereaved relatives and friends of 20 suicides mainly from Internally Displaced Peoples’ camps in Northern Uganda. Data were analyzed using a modified Interpretative Phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: Alcohol had a direct or an indirect influence on the suicide of 16 out of the 20 decedents. Directly, alcohol facilitated the suicidal process, was a means to suicide, or had an influence on the decedents’ lifestyles. Indirectly, alcohol had an influence on the suicidal process of the deceased through the drinking behavior of significant others. Conclusions: This study established that alcohol not only contributes to the suicidal process of the individuals through acute and chronic alcohol consumption, but also through victimization of those lowest in the power hierarchy by alcohol abusers higher up in the power hierarchy. Therefore, future development of suicide prevention programs should address the interrelated public health problem of alcohol abuse.

scholarly journals The Role of Self-Esteem in Suicides Among Young Men

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette Lyberg Rasmussen ◽  
Kari Dyregrov ◽  
Hanne Haavind ◽  
Antoon A. Leenaars ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Life Challenges ◽  
History Of

This study explores self-esteem in suicide among young males with no earlier history of suicide attempt(s) or treatment in mental health services. The data come from an ongoing psychological autopsy study; 10 cases of young men aged 18 to 30, were selected to generate a phenomenologically based understanding of the psychological mechanisms and processes involved in the suicidal process. The analyses are based on in-depth interviews with 61 closely connected individuals, as well as suicide notes. We used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. For these young men, the transition to young adulthood, a period of major life challenges, seemed to be associated with personal defeats. According to their significant others, the deceased seemed to have experienced intolerable discrepancies between their actual performances and their ideal self standards. Four themes emerged from the analysis: (a) striving to find a viable path to life as an adult man; (b) experiencing a sense of failure according to own standards; (c) emotional self-restriction in relationships; and (d) strong feelings of loneliness and rejection of self. Improved understanding of suicides outside the mental illness paradigm may have important implications for preventive strategies.

Suicide and Perfectionism: A Psychological Autopsy Study of Non-Clinical Suicides

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvin Kiamanesh ◽  
Kari Dyregrov ◽  
Hanne Haavind ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Fear Of Failure ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
History Of

This study explores suicide in relation to perfectionism among individuals who died by suicide with no history of treatment in mental health care or of suicide attempts. The study is part of an ongoing psychological autopsy study (PA-study). It aimed to produce a phenomenological understanding of the dynamics/processes from perfectionism to suicide among 6 men aged 22 to 58. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the interview data of 41 key informants. Based on the informants' narratives, it seemed that perfectionism left these men less able to cope with their (self-perceived) inability to meet their high expectations. Four themes emerged from analysis: 1) striving for success; 2) fear of failure; 3) keeping up the facade; and 4) rigidity. The results may be important in the prevention of nonclinical suicides, a group that is particularly difficult to identify, especially if the deceased have been regarded as very successful in many areas.

Qualitative Psychological Autopsy Interviews on Suicide in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda: The Participants' Perceptions

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Kizza ◽  
Heidi Hjelmeland ◽  
Eugene Kinyanda ◽  
Birthe Loa Knizek
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Northern Uganda ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Helping Others

Participants' perceptions of psychological autopsy interviews were investigated in post-conflict Northern Uganda. Data were derived out of their responses in the debriefing session after the formal interviews. These responses were subjected to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The majority of the participants were positive about the interview as reflected in the two broad themes: positivation of the situation through the possibility of helping others and opportunity for personal development through sharing. To some few participants the interview aroused guilt, self-reproach, and anger and reactivated painful memories. As regards suicide postvention, the findings implied that not much has been done to help the bereaved by suicide in this region, and few resources for such efforts are currently available. However, the bereaved are ready to contribute toward the fight against suicide in their communities. Hence, it is argued that a community-based mental health and Primary Health Care approaches should be encouraged in this context.

Maladaptive Perfectionism

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvin Kiamanesh ◽  
Gudrun Dieserud ◽  
Kari Dyregrov ◽  
Hanne Haavind
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
Male Suicide ◽  
Maladaptive Perfectionism ◽  
History Of ◽  
Suicide Prevention Programs

This study aimed to explore how the life history of suicide victims with no history of treatment in mental health care or of attempted suicide seemed to presdispose them to maladaptive perfectionism. The study is part of an ongoing psychological autopsy study. It aimed to produce a phenomenological understanding of the vulnerability to suicide related to perfectionism, based on the life history of six male suicide victims aged 22 to 58. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze the interview data of 41 key informants. Three main themes emerged: (a) exposure to high expectations combined with little recognition and warmth; (b) reduced ability to cope with failures and weaknesses; and (c) fear of emotional rejection. Together these themes illustrate that feelings of shame, mainly resulting from an unfulfilled need for attachment, a desire for love and recognition may relate to maladaptive perfectionism, which influences the suicidal process. The results may have important implications for suicide prevention programs.

Research Participation Experiences of Informants of Suicide and Control Cases

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 238-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul W. C. Wong ◽  
Wincy S. C. Chan ◽  
Philip S. L. Beh ◽  
Fiona W. S. Yau ◽  
Paul S. F. Yip ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Research Participation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Autopsy Study ◽  
The People ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Background: Ethical issues have been raised about using the psychological autopsy approach in the study of suicide. The impact on informants of control cases who participated in case-control psychological autopsy studies has not been investigated. Aims: (1) To investigate whether informants of suicide cases recruited by two approaches (coroners’ court and public mortuaries) respond differently to the initial contact by the research team. (2) To explore the reactions, reasons for participation, and comments of both the informants of suicide and control cases to psychological autopsy interviews. (3) To investigate the impact of the interviews on informants of suicide cases about a month after the interviews. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was used for the informants of both suicide and control cases. Telephone follow-up interviews were conducted with the informants of suicide cases. Results: The majority of the informants of suicide cases, regardless of the initial route of contact, as well as the control cases were positive about being approached to take part in the study. A minority of informants of suicide and control cases found the experience of talking about their family member to be more upsetting than expected. The telephone follow-up interviews showed that none of the informants of suicide cases reported being distressed by the psychological autopsy interviews. Limitations: The acceptance rate for our original psychological autopsy study was modest. Conclusions: The findings of this study are useful for future participants and researchers in measuring the potential benefits and risks of participating in similar sensitive research. Psychological autopsy interviews may be utilized as an active engagement approach to reach out to the people bereaved by suicide, especially in places where the postvention work is underdeveloped.

Review article: Reclaiming the rebellion: 1798 in 1998

1999 ◽  
Vol 31 (123) ◽  
pp. 395-410
Author(s):  
Ian McBride
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Physical Force ◽  
Celtic Tiger ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
International Dimension ◽  
Good Friday ◽  
The North ◽  
The Many

Few Irish men and women can have escaped the mighty wave of anniversary fever which broke over the island in the spring of 1998. As if atoning for the failed rebellion itself, the bicentenary of 1798 was neither ill-coordinated nor localised, but a genuinely national phenomenon produced by years of planning and organisation. Emissaries were dispatched from Dublin and Belfast to remote rural communities, and the resonant names of Bartlett, Whelan, Keogh and Graham were heard throughout the land; indeed, the commemoration possessed an international dimension which stretched to Boston, New York, Toronto, Liverpool, London and Glasgow. In bicentenary Wexford — complete with ’98 Heritage Trail and ’98 Village — the values of democracy and pluralism were triumphantly proclaimed. When the time came, the north did not hesitate, but participated enthusiastically. Even the French arrived on cue, this time on bicycle. Just as the 1898 centenary, which contributed to the revitalisation of physical-force nationalism, has now become an established subject in its own right, future historians will surely scrutinise this mother of all anniversaries for evidence concerning the national pulse in the era of the Celtic Tiger and the Good Friday Agreement. In the meantime a survey of some of the many essay collections and monographs published during the bicentenary will permit us to hazard a few generalisations about the current direction of what might now be termed ‘Ninety-Eight Studies’.

scholarly journals ‘This is Killing me Inside’: The Impact of Having a Parent with Young-Onset Dementia

Dementia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1089-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen J Aslett ◽  
Jaci C Huws ◽  
Robert T Woods ◽  
Joanne Kelly-Rhind
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Parent Support ◽  
Young Onset ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Affected Parent ◽  
Young Onset Dementia ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Depth Interviews

This study explored the experience of young adults having a parent with young-onset dementia. In-depth interviews were undertaken with five participants aged between 23 and 36 years of age and these were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants were found to experience a number of stresses in relation to their parent’s illness, many of which were linked to loss and guilt. Five main themes were identified related to relationship changes, shifts in roles and responsibilities, support for the non-affected parent, support for self and the impact of living with their own potential risk of dementia. These findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature and suggest that individuals with a parent with young-onset dementia have needs which service providers should consider in the wider context of young-onset dementia care.

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