Perceptions of Life and Death among Suicidal Gay Adolescents

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adital Tirosh Ben-Ari ◽  
Sharon Gil
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Gay Youth ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Actual Suicide ◽  
Gay Adolescents ◽  
Special Case

Suicide rates among homosexuals are higher than those among hetero-sexuals. This article suggests that gay youth who attempt suicide represent a special case in which the meanings associated with life and death are worth exploration. In light of the phenomenological paradigm, we are interested in how sixteen gay men who attempted suicide perceived life and death before the actual suicide attempt and how these perceptions are linked to the attempt. Orbach's model specifies four categories of attitudes toward life and death: attraction and aversion to life and attraction and aversion to death. Only three categories of Orbach's model emerged from the interview data. “Attraction to life” was missing and the analysis attempts to account for this gap. Life and death are interdependent; they exist simultaneously, not consecutively; death whirs continuously beneath the membrane of life and exerts a vast influence upon experience and conduct (Yalom, 1980, p. 29).

Suicide and Attempted Suicide in Jhenaidah District, Bangladesh, 2010–2018

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 304-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anisur Rahman Khan ◽  
Kopano Ratele ◽  
Najuwa Arendse ◽  
Md. Zahidul Islam ◽  
Isaac Dery
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
National Level ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Routine Data ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Male Suicide ◽  
Survey Estimates

Abstract. Background: Suicide and attempted suicide are a serious but under-explored public health problem in Bangladesh. Survey estimates suggest that Jhenaidah District, one of the 64 districts that make up Bangladesh, is one of the highest suicide-prone regions in Bangladesh. Relatively little is known about the magnitude of suicide attempts in the district. Aims: This article describes the incidence of suicide and suicide attempts for Jhenaidah, Bangladesh for the period 2010–2018. Method: Primary descriptive analysis was performed on routine data collected by a Bangladesh-based nongovernment organization (NGO): Societies for Voluntary Activities (SOVA). Results: A total of 22,675 suicide attempts and 3,152 suicides occurred in the district. The rate of suicide attempts was found to be 136.35/100,000 and the suicide rate was found to be 20.6/100,000 in Jhenaidah. The subdistrict Sadar had the highest incidence of suicide attempt (38.09%) and suicide (33.47%). Poisoning was the most common method of suicide attempt for both males (77.07%) and females (77%). Limitations: Many cases of suicide attempts and suicide are unreported in Bangladesh owing to stigmatization; only reported cases form part of this investigation. Conclusion: Jhenaidah has very high rates of suicide and suicide attempts that surpass the global and Bangladesh averages. Although females demonstrate higher suicide rates, male suicide rates have gradually increased over the study period. Future studies are called for to better understand the local patterns and dynamics of fatal and nonfatal suicidal behaviors. Developing a sub-district-, district-, and national-level suicide prevention strategy ought to be considered a priority.

Stakeholder Perspectives on the Stigma of Suicide Attempt Survivors

Crisis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay L. Sheehan ◽  
Patrick W. Corrigan ◽  
Maya A. Al-Khouja ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Suicide Method ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Prejudice And Discrimination

Abstract. Background: Past scholarly efforts to describe and measure the stigma surrounding suicide have largely viewed suicide stigma from the perspective of the general public. Aims: In the spirit of community-based participatory research (CBPR), the current study brought together a diverse stakeholder team to qualitatively investigate the suicide stigma as experienced by those most intimately affected by suicide. Method: Seven focus groups (n = 62) were conducted with suicide attempt survivors, family members of those who died by suicide, and suicide loss therapists. Results: Themes were derived for stereotypes (n = 30), prejudice (n = 3), and discrimination (n = 4). People who attempted suicide were seen as attention-seeking, selfish, incompetent, emotionally weak, and immoral. Participants described personal experiences of prejudice and discrimination, including those with health professionals. Conclusion: Participants experienced public stigma, self-stigma, and label avoidance. Analyses reveal that the stigma of suicide shares similarities with stereotypes of mental illness, but also includes some important differences. Attempt survivors may be subject to double stigma, which impedes recovery and access to care.

Suicidal Behavior in Four Ethnic Groups in The Hague, 2002–2004

Crisis ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Burger ◽  
Albert M. van Hemert ◽  
Willem J. Schudel ◽  
Barend J.C. Middelkoop
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Specific Rate ◽  
Completed Suicide ◽  
The Hague ◽  
Psychiatric Department

Background: Suicidal behavior is a severe public health problem. Aims: To determine the rates of attempted and completed suicide among ethnic groups in The Hague, The Netherlands (2002–2004). Methods: By analyzing data on attempted and completed suicide (from the psychiatric department of general medical hospitals; the psychiatric emergency service and the municipal coroners). Results: Turkish and Surinamese females aged 15–24 years were at highest risk for attempted suicide (age-specific rate 545 / 100,000 and 421 / 100,000 person-years, respectively). Both rates were significantly higher than in the same age group of Dutch females (246 / 100,000 person-years). Turkish (2%) and Surinamese (7%) had lower repeat suicide-attempt rates than did Dutch (16%) females aged 15–24. Significantly lower suicide-attempt rates were found for Surinamese than for Dutch females aged 35–54 years. Differences were not explained by socioeconomic living conditions. The ratio fatal/nonfatal events was 4.5 times higher in males than in females and varied across age, gender, and ethnicity strata. Completed suicide was rare among migrant females. No completed suicides were observed in the Turkish and Surinamese females aged 15–24 years. Conclusions: The study demonstrates a high risk of attempted suicide and a low risk of completed suicide among young Turkish and Surinamese females.

Risk of suicide after attempted suicide in the population of Slovenia from 1970 to 1996

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 396-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Slavko Ziherl ◽  
Bojan Zalar
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Frequency Table ◽  
Completed Suicide ◽  
The Republic ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Log Linear ◽  
Commit Suicide

AbstractObjective:All suicide attempts cannot predict suicide, therefore we examined those characteristics of suicide attempt which could most accurately predict completed suicide.Subject and methods:Subjects were all individuals registered as committed suicides (N = 16,522) or attempted suicides (N = 15,057) in the register of suicides of the Republic of Slovenia between 1970 and 1996. Log linear analysis of a frequency table was used to uncover relationship between categorical variables.Results:The model we found fit between variables: mode, number of repetitions and type, then between number of repetitions, type and gender, and between mode, type and gender.Discussion:The risk of suicide in those who previously attempted suicide is approximately 773 times higher than the risk of suicide without a previous suicide attempt. Those who attempt suicide by hanging (hanging being in Slovenia the most frequent mode of completed suicide) are at even greater risk to commit suicide.Conclusion:Our data suggests that clinicians should heighten their awareness that any suicide attempt can in some 20% predict suicide. Someone who has attempted suicide by hanging is at the highest risk of suicide.

scholarly journals The intersection of professionalism gay men, bodies and power

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 491-501
Author(s):  
Simon Peter Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Gay Men ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gay Male ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Gay Identities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to build upon the paucity of UK research on gay men and how they manage their identities, bodies and selves in the workplace. Particular focus is placed on gay male professionals working in positions of authority and how they make sense of themselves against the dominant expectations of professionalism. Design/methodology/approach The study draws upon in-depth interview data with eight gay male professionals working in positions of authority. Findings Overall, the research reveals that although the majority of participants had disclosed their sexuality in the workplace, they actively sought to integrate and normalise their gay identities. Gendered organisational norms significantly impacted upon the ways they presented their identities, bodies and selves. This was brought into focus where participants had to exercise authority. There were limited opportunities to present non-normative forms of masculinity. Originality/value This paper adds to a dearth of studies on gay men, professionalism and managing their bodies, selves and identities in the workplace. The paper builds upon and contributes to our understanding of how gay men use and construct their bodies and their self-identities as professionals. An area that has had little empirical investigation. Furthermore, the paper contributes to our understanding of organisational heteronormativity and professionalism in the workplace. The paper draws attention to issues of diversity and inclusion challenging heteronormative discourses of professionalism which are draped in masculinity. This paper highlights how professionalism serves as a normalising process that pressurises gay men to perform a specific type of masculinity. The paper argues for a more inclusive reappraisal of the meanings attached to the term professionalism.

scholarly journals Considering Patients’ Mental Capacity When Giving Them Bad News May Help Their Well-Being: A Case of Suicide Attempt after Being Informed of Lung Cancer Diagnosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Kobayashi ◽  
Satoshi Kato ◽  
Mitsuo Takeuchi
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Capacity ◽  
Bad News ◽  
Lung Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnosis Of Lung Cancer ◽  
Mental Well Being

Mental capacity is a central determinant of patients’ ability to make autonomous decisions about their care and deal with bad news. Physicians should be cognizant of this when giving patients bad news in efforts to help them to cope with the illness and to avoid a deterioration of their mental well-being. To show the importance of this concept, a case of suicide attempt with lung cancer is exemplified. A 76-year-old woman attempted suicide after receiving a diagnosis of lung cancer. Her recent life had been emotionally turbulent and she did not have sufficient mental capacity to accept and cope with this truth. She developed depression before attempting suicide.

scholarly journals A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess Feasibility and Acceptability of Telephone-Based Psychosocial Interventions in Individuals Who Attempted Suicide

2020 ◽  
pp. 025371762093927
Author(s):  
Priya Sreedaran ◽  
Ram Pratap Beniwal ◽  
Uttara Chari ◽  
Smitha T S ◽  
Vidhya Shree S V ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Feasibility Studies ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Dropout Rates ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Seeking Help

Background: Brief contact interventions such as telephone-based contacts appear to be useful in individuals who attempted suicide. Most studies of telephone-based contacts in such individuals typically consisted of frequent phone reminders for adherence to treatment and seeking help for mental health issues. Telephone-based psychosocial interventions that incorporate elements of supportive and problem-solving strategies are of interest in Indian settings due to their potential application in mitigating the wide mental health gap. Feasibility studies of telephone-based psychosocial interventions could help ascertain the difficulties that arise in the implementation of such treatments. Methods: A multicentric randomized controlled trial (RCT) is currently underway in general hospital settings in two Indian cities to study the efficacy of telephone-based psychosocial interventions in individuals with a recent suicide attempt, with routine telephone contacts (TCs) serving as the comparator. Prior to that RCT, this feasibility study was conducted to assess the acceptability of the telephone-based intervention and telephone contacts. Feasibility was assessed using dropout rates. Acceptability was assessed using participant-rated Likert-based visual analog scores from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater acceptability. Results: Dropout rates and mean acceptability scores for telephone-based psychosocial interventions were 38.5% and 8.63, while those for TCs were 41.7% and 7.57, respectively. Conclusions: Telephone-based psychosocial interventions are feasible and acceptable in individuals with a recent suicide attempt.

Jurors’ Evaluations of a High School Bullying Case in which the Victim Attempted Suicide

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel H. Gentry ◽  
Kerri L. Pickel
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
School Bullying ◽  
Criminal Trial ◽  
Academic Problems ◽  
Criminal Trials ◽  
The Future

Given the large number of criminal trials that occur annually, it is important to understand jurors’ verdict choices and punishment preferences. Recently, legislators have begun moving to criminalize school bullying, and therefore more such cases will likely be tried in courtrooms in the future. In the current study, undergraduates (N = 170; 75% female) evaluated a criminal trial involving bullying. We manipulated the victim’s age (14 or 18 years old) and the harm level (emotional distress that led to academic problems or a suicide attempt). We hypothesized that greater harm would produce more pro-victim judgments for the younger but not the older victim, and that this effect would be mediated by jurors’ inferences about each individual’s degree of responsibility. As predicted, when the victim was younger, a higher versus lower level of harm led to a greater proportion of guilty verdicts, higher probability of guilt estimates, and harsher sentence recommendations. In contrast, when the victim was older, an increase in harm significantly decreased probability of guilt estimates and did not affect verdicts or sentences. Jurors seem to interpret harm in a complex way, taking into account the victim’s apparent capacity to deal with his or her mistreatment.

scholarly journals Suicidal Ideation and Associated Factors among Adolescents in Northeastern Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Jerônimo dos Santos Silva ◽  
Fabio Alexandre Lima dos Santos ◽  
Nara Michelle Moura Soares ◽  
Emerson Pardono
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Suicide Planning

This study aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation among Brazilian adolescents. The instrument designed for the research was used considering three models with outcomes that identified the following: (a) adolescent had considered suicide, (b) adolescents have planned suicide, and (c) adolescents have attempted suicide. Logistic Regression was used in all models with significance level of 5%. An association between being female and suicidal ideation(OR=2.18, CI 95% 1.60 to 2.97), suicide planning(OR=1.80, CI 95% = 1.26–2.56), and suicide attempt(OR=2.91, CI 95% 1.79 to 4.75) was found. Violent behavior/involvement in fights was associated with thinking about suicide(OR=2.00, CI 95% = 1.43 to 2.81), suicide planning(OR=1.65, CI 95% = 1.10–2.46), and suicide attempt(OR=2.35, CI 95% = 1.49 to 3.70). For cigarette consumption, association was found with suicide ideation(OR=1.62, CI 95% 1.03 to 2.55), planning(OR=1.88, CI 95% = 1.15 to 3.08), and attempt(OR=2.35, CI 95% 1.37 to 4.03). For alcohol consumption, association was found with suicide ideation(OR=1.93, CI 95% 1.47 to 2.54), planning(OR=2.22, CI 95% 1.61 to 3.08), and attempt(OR=1.73, CI 95% 1.15 to 2.59). It was concluded that suicidal ideation was associated with female sex, involvement in fights, and illicit drug use.

Increased risk of attempted suicide in Australian veterans is associated with total and permanent incapacitation, unemployment and posttraumatic stress disorder severity

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 552-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katelyn Kerr ◽  
Madeline Romaniuk ◽  
Sarah McLeay ◽  
Andrew Khoo ◽  
Michael T Dent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of

Background: Military veterans have higher rates of suicidality and completed suicides compared to the general population. Previous research has demonstrated suicidal behaviour is higher in US combat veterans who are younger, suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety and score lower on measures of health. However, research on predictors of suicide for Australian veterans is limited. The aim of this study was to identify significant demographic and psychological differences between veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder who had attempted suicide and those with posttraumatic stress disorder who had not, as well as determine predictors of suicide attempts within an Australian cohort. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 229 ex-service personnel diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder who had attended a Military Service Trauma Recovery Day Program as outpatients at Toowong Private Hospital from 2007 to 2014. Patients completed a battery of mental health self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use, anger, depression, anxiety and quality of life. Demographic information and self-reported history of suicide attempts were also recorded. Results: Results indicated the average age was significantly lower, and the rates of posttraumatic stress disorder, anger, anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly higher in those veterans with history of a suicide attempt. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity, unemployment or total and permanent incapacity pension status significantly predicted suicide attempt history. Conclusion: Among a cohort of Australian veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, psychopathology severity, unemployment and total and permanent incapacity status are significantly associated with suicidality. This study highlights the importance of early identification of posttraumatic stress disorder and psychopathology, therapeutic and social engagement, and prioritisation of tangible employment options or meaningful and goal-directed activities for veterans deemed unable to work.

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