ORIGINS OF SUICIDALITY: COMPATIBILITY OF LAY AND EXPERT BELIEFS - QUALITATIVE STUDY

Background: Today there exist different views on origins of suicidal behaviour, which can influence the help-seeking behaviour and the adherence to the treatment of suicidal people. Subjects and methods: The beliefs lay people and patients have about the origins of suicidal behaviour as well as the compatibility of their beliefs with the views of the mental health personnel (general practitioners and psychiatrists) were assessed. 45 semi-structured interviews with the general population, suicide attempters, general practitioners and psychiatrists were conducted, audio typed, transcribed and a thematic analysis of the data was carried out. Results: The results indicated the incompatibility of the views. The general population and the suicide attempters favoured psychological explanations of suicidal behaviour, whereas the general practitioners and psychiatrists promoted medical explanations. The only common theme was perception of the suicidal crisis as a crucial factor in suicidality. Conclusions: Lay people and experts believe that suicidal crisis is the main origin of suicidal behaviour. The awareness of this common denominator and also of the differences in opinions between lay people and experts should be kept in mind when planning and implementing prevention and treatment programmes if we wish to promote help-seeking behaviour and attain good adherence to treatment

The association between life events And suicide intent in self-poisoners with and without a history of deliberate self-harm: a preliminary study.

The associations between life events in the 12 months preceding an episode of self-poisoning resulting in hospital attendance (the index episode), and the suicide intent of this episode were compared in individuals for whom the index episode was their first, episode and in individuals in whom it was a recurrence of DSH. Results indicated a significant interaction between independent life events, repetition status, and gender in the prediction of suicide intent, the association between life events and intent being moderated by repetition status in women only. The results provide preliminary evidence to suggest the presence of a suicidal process in women, in which the impact of negative life events on suicide intent diminishes across episodes

Counter-transference problems inside the group of relatives bereaving suicide

Counter-transference is a phenomenon that applies for all psychotherapeutic approaches. It was mostly developed and understood in the psychoanalytical schools of therapy, but applies also for the work in the group of relatives, bereaving suicide of a kin. The authors try to focus on the clinical material from their therapeutic practice, the problems and blind spots from the field that might obstruct the efficient work with these patients if not strictly supervised

Attitudes toward suicide in the adolescent population

Background: Only few studies have so far confirmed the clear connection of attitudes toward suicide with prevalence of suicidal behavior, and there are several contradictory findings on the balance of this relationship. Slovenia has long had a very high suicide rate, including in the population of adolescents. Aims: To examine attitudes of Slovene adolescents toward suicide and their connection to different suicide risk factors. Methods: A questionnaire on attitudes toward suicide was given to 423 high school students from three regions based on the different regional suicide rates. Results: The results proved our expectation of girls having more permissive attitudes toward suicide than boys. Also, a permissive attitude was positively associated with the majority of suicide risk factors. Conclusions: In the light of certain limitations of the study we discuss the implications of the main finding, namely, that permissive attitudes toward suicide are more likely a risk than a safety factor for suicidal behavior

ORIGINS OF SUICIDALITY: COMPATIBILITY OF LAY AND EXPERT BELIEFS - QUALITATIVE STUDY

Background: Today there exist different views on origins of suicidal behaviour, which can influence the help-seeking behaviour and the adherence to the treatment of suicidal people. Subjects and methods: The beliefs lay people and patients have about the origins of suicidal behaviour as well as the compatibility of their beliefs with the views of the mental health personnel (general practitioners and psychiatrists) were assessed. 45 semi-structured interviews with the general population, suicide attempters, general practitioners and psychiatrists were conducted, audio typed, transcribed and a thematic analysis of the data was carried out. Results: The results indicated the incompatibility of the views. The general population and the suicide attempters favoured psychological explanations of suicidal behaviour, whereas the general practitioners and psychiatrists promoted medical explanations. The only common theme was perception of the suicidal crisis as a crucial factor in suicidality. Conclusions: Lay people and experts believe that suicidal crisis is the main origin of suicidal behaviour. The awareness of this common denominator and also of the differences in opinions between lay people and experts should be kept in mind when planning and implementing prevention and treatment programmes if we wish to promote help-seeking behaviour and attain good adherence to treatment

General practitioners’ needs for support after the suicide of patient: A qualitative study

Background: Most patients that commit suicide consult their GPs before their death. This topic is often surrounded by secrecy and associated with guilt and shame. There is a lack of knowledge about support for GPs after patient suicide. Objectives: To identify the widest range of Slovenian GPs’ problems and needs in connection with patient suicide, and, based on the findings of the study, to prepare ways to assist GPs after patient suicide. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were held with GPs that had experienced a patient’s suicide during their professional career until saturation was reached. The interview guide was piloted. Twenty-two in-depth interviews were carried out between April 2012 and February 2013. Transcripts were coded and thematically analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Participating GPs suggested possible forms of support, most frequently individual consultation with a psychologist or a psychiatrist, in person, by phone, or via e-mail. Balint groups, group consultations and various workshops on suicide or depression would be a preferable form of support. Some GPs perceived critical incident review as an attempt to blame them, whereas others saw it as an opportunity for support. A group of peers that could discuss professional dilemmas in which more experienced GPs would help younger GPs would be helpful. Conclusion: Slovenian GPs did not have any formal support system at the time of the research, but they would appreciate such a possibility