Imagining terminality: anticipations of suicide with assistance in Switzerland

This article explores how people who solicit assistance in dying imagine and anticipate their own terminality. Its objective consists in describing and interpreting the fact that these individuals go beyond their medical condition when commenting on such a request and on their engagement in this process. Based on an ongoing ethnographic inquiry funded by the Swiss Science Foundation and carried out in Switzerland, where assistance with suicide is permitted within a unique legal framework, the article shows the importance of taking into consideration the role that affective and imaginative internalized contents – imagination, broadly conceived – play in the realization of assisted suicide. These contents are key to appreciating a decision to request to die with assistance as well as its justifications

Ethnographie du suicide assisté en Suisse

Bien que le suicide assisté reste en Suisse un phénomène social minoritaire, il suscite des débats passionnés réactualisant cette vieille interrogation: est-ce que la vie vaut la peine d’être vécue ? Et dans quelles circonstances

Spiritual and religious issues in the aftermath of suicide

Introduction: Spirituality and religion have only been marginally investigated in the experiences of the bereaved by suicide (or survivors of suicide). Aim: This article directly addresses two questions: In what way was spirituality or religion an issue for survivors of suicide? How were they helpful (or not) during their reconstruction process? Method: Research involved qualitative studies, carried out in Switzerland with 50 survivors of suicide using in depth-interviews. Data were analyzed according to grounded theory principles. Results: Suicide triggered questioning mainly about the afterlife of the deceased and of how transcendency relates to agency and responsibility in the suicidal act. Spiritual or religious issues play an important role in the process of reconstruction for survivors, notably in meaning-making and responsibility-clarifying processes, in forging a continuing bond with the deceased and in honoring their life and memory. Nevertheless, this role is complex and can either support or make the recovery difficult (or both). Conclusion: Mental health and social care professionals may support survivors’ resilience and their reconstruction process by valuing the constructive aspects of their spiritual and religious experiences and by taking into account the spiritua

Help-Seeking in Suicidal Situations: Paramount and yet Challenging. Interactions between Significant Others of Suicidal Persons and Health Care Providers

Significant others are often crucial for suicidal persons or suicide attempters’ access to care, yet little is known about their efforts to seek help. This article presents the findings of a qualitative pilot study carried out in Switzerland on the help-seeking process of 18 significant others, their perception of the care received by their loved one, and the interactions and collaboration they experienced with professionals. Most significant others repeatedly sought out support for their loved one and themselves. The help-seeking process seemed mostly difficult, was seldom successful on the first attempt, and was filled with multiple difficulties, such as availability and continuity of care and cooperation issues with professionals. Two-thirds of participants were not satisfied with the care provided to their loved ones and half of them faced challenges in their cooperation with professionals, i.e., poor sharing of information or not being acknowledged as partners or supported by professionals. Based on their experience, providing education about suicidal crises and care programs to significant others might lighten their burden and improve their cooperation with professionals, who in turn may benefit from training in communication issues and specific methods of cooperation with significant others in suicidal situations

Besoins des personnes confrontées à un suicide et modalités de soutien disponibles : quelles interfaces ?

Après une brève synthèse qui reprend les grandes lignes des connaissances actuelles dans le domaine, cet article se penche d’abord sur les besoins et les réalités des personnes confrontées au suicide d’un proche ainsi que sur les mesures (type de soutien et domaine) qu’il serait souhaitable de mettre en place. Il présente ensuite quelques expériences réussies de programmes ou de mesures de postvention dans différents pays. Des recommandations clôturent le propos

Possibilités et modalités de soutien pour les personnes endeuillées par suicide

Cet article passera en revue les différents types de soutien destinés aux personnes endeuillées après suicide. Deux grands courants d’interventions sont disponibles d’une part des interventions qui mobilisent le soutien social et permettent aux personnes en deuil de se sentir moins seules en ayant la possibilité de partager leurs expériences avec d’autres endeuillés. Ces interventions incluent des approches de parrainage, de groupes d'entraide et de groupes de soutien. D’autre part, pour les personnes qui souhaitent amorcer une démarche de réflexion personnelle ou alors pour les personnes dont le deuil se complexifie, les approches de psychothérapie seront indiquées. Nous présenterons ces différentes interventions et discuterons des effets positifs quant à leur efficacité de traitements