Thoughts and feelings associated with parasuicide: A thematic analysis

Abstract

This article seeks to shed more light on what influences an individual to take their own life. By interviewing individuals who have presented at a general hospital with an act of attempted suicide, their recollections of events running up to the act have been analysed by the research team and described in this article. Nobody can be certain of an individuals' exact motives when being assessed following an act of self-harm, but by using a validated suicide intent scale and clinician judgement together, the research can reasonably claim to have included those patients whose actions were clearly intent on suicide rather than self-harm with no strong desire to end one's life. Seven in-depth interviews were conducted 7–14 days after the initial presentation, time enough to ensure recollections are accurate while not being too close to the initial act of attempted suicide as to be viewed as too soon to expect someone to reflect on a traumatic episode. A comprehensive literature search and discussion section in the article enables the reader to learn more about the issue of suicide, which is fair to say generates much debate among psychiatric, psychological, and social commentators alike.