Locus of control and the meaning of life as a salutogenic model that reduces suicidal tendencies in patients with mental illness

Abstract

Suicide and suicidal tendencies are extremely common in individuals with mental illness. The objective of this study was to construct a salutogenic model for the prevention of suicidality in mentally ill patients, based on two variables: locus of control and meaning of life. The study examined the relationship between internal locus of control and suicidal tendency, and whether the meaning of life variable mediates this relationship. Participants were 59 men and women coping with mental illness, and 65 normative men and women, who formed a comparison group. Study results show that there is indeed a negative correlation between locus of control and suicidal tendency, with the meaning of life variable mediating between them, both in the normative population and in the group of patients with mental illness, suggesting that these variables can serve as a basis for a salutogenic model for the prevention of suicidality. The study recommends using the salutogenic model to help reduce the suicidal tendency of patients with mental illness.