Struggling to recover by changing suicidal behaviour: Narratives from women with borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is described as the most lethal of psychiatric disorders, with suicide rates of 3-9.5%, a rate almost 50 times higher than that of the general population. The struggle to recover by changing suicidal behaviour is not well described in relation to people with BPD. The most common reason given for suicide attempts was to escape or obtain relief from situations of extreme distress. The aim of this study was to explore how a recovery process facilitated changes in suicidal behaviour in a sample of women with BPD. An exploratory design was used. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews (n = 13), and a thematic analysis was employed. The findings revealed two themes: 'struggling to assume responsibility for self and others' and 'struggling to stay alive by enhancing self-development'. The first theme comprised three subthemes: 'the desire to recover by searching for strength', 'the struggle to be understood as the person you are', and 'recovering by refusing to be violated'. The second theme comprised one subtheme: 'recovering by feeling safe and trusted'. The main finding of this study suggests that women with BPD who exhibit suicidal behaviour can change when they feel confirmed, safe, and trusted.