Afrikaans: In hierdie navorsingstuk en proefskrif word die probleem van adolessente selfmoord en selfmoordgedrag binne ‘n sosiaal-konstruksionistiese paradigma met die klem op ‘n pastoraal narratiewe terapeutiese benadering ondersoek. Met hierdie doelstelling voor oë word die verhale van adolessente met selfmoordgedrag aangehoor en in gesprek gebring met literêre verhale oor adolessente, selfmoord en selfmoordgedrag. Hierdie studie soek terselfdertyd na 'n gepaste terapeutiese werkswyse deur middel waarvan daar met hierdie tieners in interaktiewe verhoudings getree kan word. In die terapeutiese proses wat uit hierdie wedersydse samewerking ontwikkel, kan daar aan hulle betekenisvolle berading verleen word. In die sensitiewe interaksie tussen die vertel van en luister na noodverhale word dit progressief duidelik dat adolessente selfmoord en selfmoordgedrag spruit uit ‘n integrasie van oorkoepelende komplekse omstandighede en verhale wat in negatiewe wisselwerking ten opsigte van mekaar staan. Die noodwendige gevolg hiervan is ‘n gevoel van sinloosheid en gevangenheid in die lewe wat uitloop op selfmoord en selfmoordgedrag. • Die algemene tendens is om adolessente te tipeer as "blote tieners". Hierdie kategorisering het tot gevolg dat alle adolessente as gesamentlike groep hanteer word. Met in agneming van die verskillende adolessente se verhale, blyk dit duidelik dat die individu in sy uniekheid en eksentrisiteit totaal binne hierdie tiperingsraamwerk verdwyn. Die narratiewe benadering tot en beskouing van adolessente selfmoord en selfmoordgedrag skep ‘n onbevooroordeelde platvorm waarop elke unieke lewensverhaal van die individu aangehoor kan word. • Normaalweg vra ouers vrae oor die rede of motief waardeur die adolessent tot ‘n selfmoordpoging gedryf is. Hulle aanvaar summier dat slegs een gebeurtenis die oorsaak of probleem kan vaspen. Hierdie studie toon aan dat dit ‘n kumulatiewe opeenhoping van oorsake is wat uiteindelik tot so ‘n desperate poging of daad aanleiding gee. Die narratiewe benadering skep die ruimte vir die aanhoor van die individueel unieke verhaal binne die vervlegte verhale. • Die invloed van die groter samelewingsdiskoers ("grand narrative") is ook ‘n aspek wat in die studie uitgelig word as ‘n besonders bydraende faktor tot adolessente selfmoord en selfmoordgedrag. Die pastoraal narratiewe beskouing van adolessente selfmoord en selfmoordgedrag het nie al die antwoorde nie, maar stel ten slotte die vraag na die begrip selfmoord aan die orde. Is dit "self” en is dit "moord"? English: In this research study and thesis the problem of adolescent suicide and suicidal behavior is examined within a social - constructionist paradigm with the emphasis on a pastoral narrative therapeutic approach. With this purpose in mind, the stories of adolescents with suicidal behavior are listened to and brought into conversation with literary tales of adolescents' suicide and suicidal behavior. At the same time the study seeks for an appropriate therapeutic approach by means of which interactive relationships can be established with these teenagers. In the therapeutic process that results from this mutual collaboration, meaningful counseling can be provided. During the sensitive interaction between the telling of and listening to stories of distress, it progressively becomes clear that adolescent suicide and suicidal behavior is a result of the integration of complex circumstances and stories that have a negative reciprocal impact on each other. • The general tendency is to label adolescents as "mere teenagers". This categorisation results in all adolescents being treated as a collective group. In consideration of the different adolescents' stories, it becomes clear that the individual uniqueness and eccentricity totally disappears within this typifying framework. The narrative approach to and contemplation of adolescent suicide and suicide behavior creates an unprejudiced platform from which each unique life-story can be listened to. • Generally parents ask questions about the reason or motive that drove an adolescent to suicide. They summarily assume that only one incident can identify the cause or problem. This study shows that it is a cumulative conglomeration of causes that eventually leads to such a desperate attempt or action. The narrative approach provides a wide scope for listening to each unique story within the interwoven stories. • The influence of the greater social discourse (grand narrative) is also an aspect that is highlighted in the study as a particular contributive factor to adolescent suicide and suicidal behavior. The pastoral narrative approach to adolescent suicide and suicidal behavior does not have all the answers, but concludes with the question: Is it "self' (sui) and is it "murder" (cidium)? / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology: Pastoral Family Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Religion has a well-documented relationship with mental health benefits and has consistently demonstrated an impact on several specific mental health concerns, including suicide, generally finding various religious facets to be inversely associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. More specifically, religion has been found to be associated with suicide in a number of ways, including decreased acceptance of suicide, decreased likelihood of suicidal thoughts, decreased likelihood of suicidal attempts, fewer suicide attempts, lower relative risk of suicide, lower suicide rate, and increased reasons for living. Several studies have proposed potential mediators (e.g., social support, locus of control, and substance abuse) of the relationship between religion and mental health, usually in non-clinical samples. The current study sought to examine the association between religious attendance and suicidal ideation using archival data of a clinical sample collected from the University of North Texas Psychology Clinic. Results from this sample revealed no evidence of mediation, instead suggesting a direct effect of religious attendance on suicidal ideation. Two mediation models demonstrated the effects of external locus of control and social support on suicidal ideation. These models are discussed in terms of their directionality, considering the extant research on these associations. Findings of the current study have implications for welcoming the incorporation of salient religious topics throughout treatment in mental health settings, including discussion of religious attendance among those clients who have identified religion as a personal value.

This research was stimulated by pastoral concerns regarding the high rate of suicide in the South African Hindu community. On the one hand it was found that traumatized individuals contemplating suicide were woefully ill-equipped with helpful religious guidelines and on the other it is known that the primary and authoritative scriptures of Hinduism possess a wealth of information that can promote healing. This work uses the Taittiriya Upanishad (3.10.5) to address this challenge. The early Vedic writings are not systematized nor are they fully explicable except through commentaries. This research surveys the early Vedic and Upanisadic Writings in order to show the literary, social and philosophical conditions under which the texts were produced. The Taittiriya Upanisad is the culminating part of several strands of thought that emerged from the earlier Taittiriya School. In order to interpret the text of this Upanisad it was necessary to link its key concepts with other Upanisads of this period. Further interpretations emerged from later Upanisads. These texts were viewed in the light of several commentators - Shaukara (medieval period), and Vivekananda, Aurobindo and Radhakrishuan of the Neo-Vedanta movements. In the early Vedic period the soul is a metaphysical entity. Upon death it is judged and in accordance with its good or bad actions, heavenly rewards or the punishments of hell are meted out to it. Heaven and hell are final eschatological goals for the soul in the Vedic period. In the later Vedic or Upanisadic period it is found that heaven and hell are temporary eschatological goals. The ultimate goal becomes Liberation which implies the cessation of duality and the realization of non-duality. Correspondingly the Taittiriya Upauisad defines the soul in a manner in which its components have the potential to achieve this later goal. Here the soul is a formulation of five sheaths: body, vital energy, mind, intellect and bliss with an immortal consciousness as its focus. Functioning under the effects of ignorance each sheath binds the soul to suffering and rebiiths either on earth or on other planes (heaven or hell). However, each sheath also possesses an intrinsic capacity to liberate the soul from suffering. Tills work explores these negative and positive capabilities of the sheaths and points out the path by which the soul's divine potential may be realized. The ultimate healing or liberation occurs when the 'focus-consciousness' of the soul is intuitively realized. This consciousness is one with the universal consciousness. This achievement produces the 'liberated soul' who experiences ecstasy at this knowledge of oneness. This research also points out that the Neo-Vedanta movements, unlike their medieval counterparts, have a life-affirming and positive social attitude that seeks to draw from ancient texts for the purposes of healing and social upliftment.

Advances in technology and medicine have greatly impacted on religious thought and have contributed to a large extent in bringing to the fore questions regarding euthanasia, suicide and abortion. This has raised a plethora of questions regarding actions and consequent ethical choices. What impact this has had on the Durban Hindu regarding the interpretation and re-interpretation of scripture to accommodate euthanasia, suicide and abortion is examined in the background of karma and dharma. A cross-section of Durban Hindus consisting of lawyers, doctors, academics, schoolteachers, Hindu scholars, priests and housewives were interviewed. Their views on karma and dharma, to what extent these concepts underlie their thinking with respect to euthanasia, suicide and abortion and what influence classical views based on Hindu scripture as well as Western thinking have had on the contemporary Hindus of the Durban area, are examined. Consequently, karma and dharma are viewed from a hermeneutical perspective and examined in the light of the phenomenological approach. The key hermeneutical concepts of karma and dharma have been modified and re-interpreted to accommodate changing circumstances. The views expressed range from the extremely liberal to the ultra conservative. Although the subjects were not all familiar with Hindu scripture, the views expressed were similar to scripture. Many Hindus therefore are reasoning on traditional lines, although the basis of their reasoning has shifted from scripture. Ethics and morality are not the only underlying principles affecting the euthanasia, suicide and abortion debate: financial and social considerations are also important. Although euthanasia and abortion are strongly condemned by the conservative Hindu they are accepted on medical, social and utilitarian grounds. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D. Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)

Advances in technology and medicine have greatly impacted on religious thought and have contributed to a large extent in bringing to the fore questions regarding euthanasia, suicide and abortion. This has raised a plethora of questions regarding actions and consequent ethical choices. What impact this has had on the Durban Hindu regarding the interpretation and re-interpretation of scripture to accommodate euthanasia, suicide and abortion is examined in the background of karma and dharma. A cross-section of Durban Hindus consisting of lawyers, doctors, academics, schoolteachers, Hindu scholars, priests and housewives were interviewed. Their views on karma and dharma, to what extent these concepts underlie their thinking with respect to euthanasia, suicide and abortion and what influence classical views based on Hindu scripture as well as Western thinking have had on the contemporary Hindus of the Durban area, are examined. Consequently, karma and dharma are viewed from a hermeneutical perspective and examined in the light of the phenomenological approach. The key hermeneutical concepts of karma and dharma have been modified and re-interpreted to accommodate changing circumstances. The views expressed range from the extremely liberal to the ultra conservative. Although the subjects were not all familiar with Hindu scripture, the views expressed were similar to scripture. Many Hindus therefore are reasoning on traditional lines, although the basis of their reasoning has shifted from scripture. Ethics and morality are not the only underlying principles affecting the euthanasia, suicide and abortion debate: financial and social considerations are also important. Although euthanasia and abortion are strongly condemned by the conservative Hindu they are accepted on medical, social and utilitarian grounds. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D. Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)