How existential therapy may help people who are suicidal

Abstract

ABSTRACT Suicide is a worldwide public health issue and concerns about rising suicide rates are growing significantly in many countries. Psychotherapy is often expected to address this problem in clients. Existential therapy may be a particularly effective prevention technique to address suicide related concerns. Existential concerns common among suicidal patients include meaninglessness, isolation, freedom and responsibility. Previous work in existential therapy has given considerable attention to meaninglessness and meaning in life, but discussions on other existential concerns have been limited. This article presents a case for the relevance of existential therapy for working with people presenting with issues relating to suicidality and offers recommendations for clinicians hoping to foster discussions with clients pertaining to existential concerns.