No description available.

No description available.

After attempting suicide and speaking with God, a disaster of a woman sets out to start her own religion, all while moving back in with her parents.

Previous research has suggested that a strong relationship exists between early childhood abuse and later suicidal behavior. However, the process through which an abused child becomes suicidal in adolescence has not been examined. The present study attempted to identify a pathway in a sample of juvenile delinquents because they have been shown to be at an increased risk for suicide when compared to the general population. It was initially hypothesized that the use of avoidant coping strategies; a self-deprecatory attributional style; poor perceived social support; poor problem-solving appraisal; depression; hopelessness; and low self-esteem would be associated with suicidal ideation, subsequent to childhood abuse. However, this theory could not be examined due to methodological weaknesses encountered in the study. A similar yet more parsimonious theory was then devised, prior to analyses, based on links found in previous research between the variables that could be examined. It was hypothesized that childhood abuse and low social support would be related to later suicidal ideation via poor problem-solving appraisal and psychopathology in the form of depression, hopelessness, and low self-esteem. Different variations of this mediational theory were examined through the use of structural equation models. The sample employed in this study included two hundred adolescents incarcerated at juvenile detention centers in Virginia. All participants voluntarily completed 11 self-report measures which took approximately 1½ to 2 hours, while seated in their classroom at the juvenile detention center. The findings from the present study suggest that the relationship between childhood abuse and low social support, and suicidal ideation, is mediated by psychopathology and to a lesser extent, poor problem-solving appraisal. / Master of Science

The decision by teenagers either to consider or to attempt to commit suicide was addressed in this research. Covariance structure analysis (LISREL) techniques were used to examine the influence of four social-psychological factors (psychic disruption, delinquency, family disruption, and school problems) upon a suicidal orientation.

Euthanasia, known in its active form as assisted suicide, is rapidly becoming one of the most heatedly debated moral, ethical, social, and legal issues to face the American public in some time. Because of its complexity, there are many arguments for and against euthanasia, and until all aspects of this highly controversial topic are explored and understood, this practice will continue to cause misunderstanding and suffering for those who both oppose and support it. It seems as if everyone has an opinion about euthanasia even though it affects a minute percentage of the U.S. population directly. All of us deal with death in one form or another, should it be the death of a loved one, friend, pet, or of one's own impending demise. Death as a reality is not remotely controversial as with the aspects of murder and suicide. Euthanasia touch on both areas. Is euthanasia just another term for murder, and a politically excusable one at that, or is euthanasia a way to assist the terminally ill out of their cocoon of pain?

Les personnes incarcérées ainsi que les personnes présentant une problématique de santé mentale sont deux groupes parmi lesquels le taux de suicide est plus élevé comparativement à la population générale. Considérant que ces caractéristiques se retrouvent parmi la clientèle du Centre Régional de Santé Mentale (CRSM), qui est l'un des cinq centres psychiatriques du Service Correctionnel du Canada (SCC), des mesures de dépistage du risque suicidaire avaient été mises en place. Le Suicide Probability Scale (SPS ), test conçu par Cull et Gill (1988), était administré de façon répétitive, soit à un intervalle de trois mois à tous les détenus-patients et après un mois à ceux qui ont obtenu un résultat indiquant un risque sévère . Cette thèse visait à évaluer la valeur prédictive du SPS auprès d'une population à la fois carcérale et psychiatrique et aussi à vérifier si le fait de passer un même test de façon répétitive n'influence pas sa prédictivité.Les dossiers de soixante sujets ont été examinés, dont la moitié ont posé un geste suicidaire lors de leur séjour au CRSM. Ces sujets sont des hommes adultes condamnés à une peine d'incarcération au niveau fédéral, c'est-à-dire une sentence supérieure à deux ans et qui ont présenté des besoins au niveau de la santé mentale justifiant un transfert au centre psychiatrique. Les résultats des analyses ROC confirment la validité prédictive du SPS dans une perspective à court et moyen terme, mais pas à long terme puisque pour les tests administrés à l'admission, les analyses statistiques ne se sont pas révélées significatives. D'autres analyses ROC ainsi que des régressions logistiques n'ont pas permis de confirmer l'hypothèse initiale à savoir que l'utilisation répétitive d'un même instrument nuisait à sa validité prédictive. Toutefois, une prudence est recommandée quant aux interprétations tirées de ces analyses, compte tenu du nombre restreint de participants lorsqu'ils ont été répartis selon le nombre de passations du test.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Suicide is a truly philosophical problem. Judging whether life is or not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy. In Africa, suicide is not uncommon as evidenced by the Botswana experience. Suicide acts are the forefront of the daily existence even today. Suicide is felt in different areas of Botswana and while the study draws heavily on Africa especially Botswana, reference is also made to countries outside Africa. Hence, suicide in this thesis is not addressed in a restrictive manner. But its manifestation in essence is assessed in a general mode. This implies that the escalation of suicide is viewed from the sociological, psychological and philosophical implications. Although it is not easy to accept and live with suicide, people are beginning to accommodate it as an inevitable concept. However, the family and friends of a person who has committed suicide still feels ashamed, humiliated and sometimes guilty. The aim of this assignment is to analyse and evaluate the moral argument for and against suicide and to focus on the moral implications of committing suicide. While agreeing that individuals' autonomy are personal, the writer tries to suggest a way out of this self-destruction (suicide) which is just a means to an end and not an end in itself. The writer in the concluding chapter tries to explore the pros and cons of suicide, and comes up with the conclusion that the right to live should be given attention than the right to die, at least to preserve its generations which all creatures strive for. Areas of focus: • The concept of Suicide • The nature and incidence of Suicide. • Arguments in favour of Suicide • Arguments against Suicide • The Suicide I Euthanasia Debate / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Selfmoord is 'n ware filosofiese probleem. Om te oordeel of 'n lewe die moeite werd is om gelewe te word, vereis 'n antwoord op 'n fundamentele vraag van filosofie. In Afrika is selfmoord nie ongewoon nie, soos gesien in die geval van Botswana. Selfmoord kom baie algemeen daar voor. Selfmoord word aangetref in verskeie areas in Botswana, en, alhoewel die studie fokus op Afrika - en spesifiek Botswana, word daar ook verwys na lande buite Afrika. Maar die manifestasie daarvan word in essensie en in die algemeen aangespreek. Dit beteken dat die toename in selfmoord in terme van die verskynsel se sosiologiese, sielkundige en filosofiese implikasies aangespreek word. Alhoewel dit nie maklik is on selfmoord te aanvaar en mee saam te leef nie, begin mense dit aanvaar as 'n onvermydelike verskynsel. Maar die familie van 'n persoon wat selfmoord gepleeg het voel steeds skaam, verneder en soms skuldig. Die doel van hierdie werkstuk is om die argumente vir en teen selfmoord te analiseer, te evalueer, en om te fokus op die morele implikasies van selfmoord. Alhoewel die outeur saamstem dat individue outonoom is, word sterk teen die morele aanvaarbaarheid van selfmoord geargumenteer. In die gevolgtrekking ondersoek die outeur die voordele en nadele van selfmoord en eindig met die bevinding dat die reg tot lewe meer aandag behoort te kry as die sg. reg om te sterf. Areas waarop gefokus word: • Die konsep "selfmoord" as sodanig • Die aard van selfmoord en (hoe algemeen dit voorkom.) • Argumente ten gunste van selfmoord • Argumente teen selfmoord • Die selfmoord -genadedood debat

Background Suicidal behavior is an important global health problem affecting also significant others. Both genetic and environmental influences play an important role in the development of suicidal behavior. There is a need of interventions for family and friends after a suicide attempt. The aim of this thesis was to assess the impact of family history of suicide (FHS) and early life adversity (ELA) on severity of suicidal behavior and on level of interpersonal problems in suicide attempters. Furthermore it aimed to evaluate a DBT-based skills training program, Family Connections (FC), for relatives and friends of suicide attempters. Methods Studies I and II included 181 suicide attempters. FHS was assessed with the Karolinska Self-Harm History Interview or in patient records. ELA was assessed with the Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scale (KIVS) measuring exposure to interpersonal violence in childhood. Suicide intent was measured with the Freeman scale. Interpersonal problems were assessed with the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP). Study III, a pilot study evaluating the effect of FC for family members of suicide attempters, included 13 participants who completed the program with pre- and post-questionnaires. The experience of burden was assessed with the Burden Assessment Scale (BAS), general wellbeing with Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and level of depression was assessed with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Swedish scale Questions About Family Members (QAFM) was used to explore the quality of the participants’ relationship with the patient and the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI) was used to measure satisfaction with life situation. Study IV included 132 family members, and investigated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of FC in psychiatric care. Participants were assessed pre- and post-intervention with the following self-report questionnaires: BAS, QAFM and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. Results Male suicide attempters with FHS made more serious and well planned suicide attempts and had higher suicide risk. FHS and exposure to interpersonal violence as a child were independent predictors of suicide in male suicide attempters. Regarding interpersonal problems, suicide attempters with FHS had significantly more often an intrusive personal style, indicating that they might have an impaired ability to create stable, long-lasting relationships. In the pilot study the participants reported a significant reduction in burden, an improved psychic health and an improvement in the relationship with the patient after completing FC. In the fourth study, FC showed to be feasible and effectively implemented in a psychiatric outpatient services clinic. Regarding burden, results were in line with the pilot study, with a significant reduction in all subscales in BAS. Conclusions High-risk patients call for a consideration of both ELA and FHS in clinical suicide risk assessment. In suicide attempters at biological risk, suicide might be prevented with the early recognition of environmental risks. Further, the interpersonal problems associated with FHS may cause difficulties for suicide attempters to accept or benefit from treatment, and caregivers should take into account the characteristics of the suicide attempter´s interpersonal functioning. The results from the pilot study provide support for the need and importance of an educational program addressed specifically to family members of suicide attempters. Preliminary results support the feasibility and potential value of an implementation of FC in psychiatric open care clinics.

This study examines how the taboo subject of suicide is communicated, perceived and experienced on the largest Swedish online discussion platform Flashback Forum. The aim is to describe and analyze how the subject is constructed and reconstructed in 2.484 suicide specific discussion posts initiated by suicidal individuals on the forum. The empirical material is based on 25 threads active during a one-year period. The sample was categorized by using an analytical tool designed by Malin Wreder (2007) based on concepts from Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. Two conflicting approaches to suicide were identified. The suicide tolerant discourse views suicide as an accepted way out of prolonged suffering. The other suicide critical discourse has an opposing view. Within these discourses four key concepts (suicide, freedom, responsibility and future) was identified as nodal points. Frank’s theory of illness narratives was used to place the stories of the discussion participants within a larger theoretical framework. One conclusion is that the cultural preferred idea about suicide as a temporary curable condition is challenged by the suicide tolerant discourse. For a suicidal individual suffering can be experienced as eternal hence a reception with one-sided focus on restitution may hinder rather than help.