Empathy in adolescent suicidal behaviors: Perspectives from the adolescents, their parents and their healthcare professionals

Abstract

Introduction Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15–25years, and the rate of suicide attempts is 10–20 times higher than that of completed suicides. Past research improved the knowledge on risk and protective factors, and resulted in large-scale campaigns of prevention and reduction of deaths by suicide. However, their effect seems to decline, and the prevalence rates of suicidal attempts have stopped decreasing (either becoming stable or increasing again). Method Qualitative synthesis on adolescents' suicidal behaviors, from the perspectives of 900 participants (adolescents presenting suicidal behaviors, their parents, and their healthcare professionals), including 44 studies (1990–2014, having good quality according to CASP evaluation) systematically found on five databases (Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, SSCI). Results The suicidal experience is organized around three superordinate themes: the individual experience (the individual burden and suffering related to suicide attempts); the relational experience (the importance of relationships with others at all stages of the process of suicidal behavior); and the social and cultural experience (how cultural groups and society accept/reject youths in distress and their families, and how this affects the suicidal process and its management). Conclusions The violence of the message of a suicidal act and the fears associated with death lead to incomprehension and interfere with the capacity for empathy of both family and professionals. How can we treat someone when our capacity of empathy is dumbfounded? Exploring the concept of intersubjectivity, we found a possible viable answer. Especially, the need of a third place in the suicidal patient care is discussed.