<p>The aim of this essay is to try to gain understanding and to get a more profound knowledge of suicide. The questions at issue were 1) What empirical factors are mentioned in the research as possible to explain suicide. 2) Which theoretical perspectives are discussed in research concerning suicide. To answer our questions at issue we carried out a selective research overview with a qualitative perspective. The primary documents that has been the foundation of this essay is constituted by nine of the leading researchers publications in the area of suicidology. The questions of issue were analyzed and answered on the basis of social constructionist theory. The research findings showed that suicide is a complex area with no single answers. There are several empirical variables that the researches describe as factors that might influence suicidal behavior and the research has shown patterns in certain risk groups. These variables interact in dynamic processes and shall not be regarded on a one to one basis. The theoretical perspectives that are discussed in research are divided up in three main areas; Sociological, Psychological and Neurobiological & Genetic theories. Although all theories have their own approach and explanation to the phenomena of suicide the research findings are moving towards a more multidisciplinary approach. The social constructionist perspective of this essay gives the reader a new dimension to the phenomena. Empirical and theoretical findings can be seen as constructions aroused from the interaction among people in our society which we all are a part of maintaining.</p>

The aim of this essay is to try to gain understanding and to get a more profound knowledge of suicide. The questions at issue were 1) What empirical factors are mentioned in the research as possible to explain suicide. 2) Which theoretical perspectives are discussed in research concerning suicide. To answer our questions at issue we carried out a selective research overview with a qualitative perspective. The primary documents that has been the foundation of this essay is constituted by nine of the leading researchers publications in the area of suicidology. The questions of issue were analyzed and answered on the basis of social constructionist theory. The research findings showed that suicide is a complex area with no single answers. There are several empirical variables that the researches describe as factors that might influence suicidal behavior and the research has shown patterns in certain risk groups. These variables interact in dynamic processes and shall not be regarded on a one to one basis. The theoretical perspectives that are discussed in research are divided up in three main areas; Sociological, Psychological and Neurobiological &amp; Genetic theories. Although all theories have their own approach and explanation to the phenomena of suicide the research findings are moving towards a more multidisciplinary approach. The social constructionist perspective of this essay gives the reader a new dimension to the phenomena. Empirical and theoretical findings can be seen as constructions aroused from the interaction among people in our society which we all are a part of maintaining.

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O suicídio é uma morte repentina e violenta, que choca. Pode provocar indignação, pois causa em quem ficou um hiato, em relação à experiência de dizer adeus àquele que é amado. A morte autoinfligida causa sofrimento e, por isso, o enlutado por suicídio é reconhecido como sobrevivente. Este estudo teve como objetivo a compreensão do processo de luto do(a) filho(a) da pessoa que cometeu o suicídio. Jamison (2010), Alvarez (1999) e Shneidman (1985; 1993) foram os principais autores que fundamentaram a discussão sobre o suicídio. As obras de Parkes (1998; 2009), Franco (2002; 2010), Kovács (1992; 2003) e Clark (2001; 2007), as fontes básicas consultadas para a compreensão do processo de luto. Trata-se de pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, tendo como participantes 9 (nove) filhos de indivíduos que cometeram o suicídio. Os princípios éticos de sigilo, privacidade, confidencialidade, não identificação dos dados do colaborador e liberdade de participação foram respeitados. Os depoimentos foram gravados com a anuência dos entrevistados e realizados: entrevista para a coleta de depoimento, de aproximadamente 3 (três) horas de duração e 2 (dois) contatos por e-mail para enviar a transcrição das entrevistas, e outro, depois da análise dos dados, para compartilhar com o colaborador a compreensão da pesquisadora. As unidades de significados foram extraídas conforme o método fenomenológico (Moustakas, 1994) e compreendidas pela perspectiva da abordagem da Gestalt-terapia. Observou-se que para alguns entrevistados, a superação da falta do progenitor trouxe ambivalências: vivos, foram ausentes; mortos, tornaram-se presentes. O ato suicida pode denunciar uma dinâmica familiar cujo rompimento de vínculos já acontecia, ou seja, o estresse foi experienciado antes, durante e depois do suicídio. Portanto, o suicídio não foi fator precipitante, mas, sim, o processo como um todo. Quando o filho sobrevive ao suicídio de um dos genitores pode ter uma experiência cujo sofrimento provoca culpa, raiva, ressentimentos, sensação de desamparo e de abandono, solidão, falta de oportunidade por não ter recebido colo, acalanto, cuidado, amor e direção. Considerou-se que, embora a morte seja para sempre, o luto é um processo dinâmico, no qual os enlutados tentam administrar uma diversidade de sentimentos e pensamentos: além da necessidade de compreender a morte, surge a redefinição de seu papel na família. Destaca-se também o calar e o isolamento dos depoentes. O isolamento parece acontecer para que não sejam mobilizados os sentimentos confusos e não compartilhados, que ameaçam a zona de conforto tão arduamente conquistada pelos que sobreviveram. O que se cala é o sofrimento, a dúvida e o estigma. Identificou-se que o suicídio parental é uma vivência ímpar, que permite à pessoa descobrir e desenvolver estratégias de enfrentamento em seu processo de luto / Suicide is a sudden and violent death, which shocks. It may cause outrage, as it causes a gap in those who remained, in relation to the experience of saying goodbye to the one who is loved. The self-inflicted death causes suffering and, thus, the bereaved by suicide is recognized as a survivor. This study had as goal the comprehension of the grieving process of the offspring of the person who committed suicide. Jamison (2010), Alvarez (1999) and Shneidman (1985; 1993) were the main authors who grounded the discussion about suicide. The works of Parkes (1998; 2009), Franco (2002; 2010), Kovács (1992; 2003) and Clark (2001; 2007), the basic sources consulted to the comprehension of the grieving process. It is a research of qualitative nature, having as participants nine (9) offspring of individuals who committed suicide. The ethical principles of secrecy, privacy, confidentiality, no identification of the data of the collaborators and freedom of participation were respected. The testimonies were recorded with the consent of the interviewees and carried out: interview - to collect the testimony, approximately three (3) hours long - and two (2) contacts by e-mail one to send the transcripts of the interviews, and other after analyzing the data, to share with the collaborator the comprehension of the researcher. The units of meaning were extracted according to the phenomenological method (Moustakas, 1994) and understood through the perspective of the Gestalt-Therapy approach. It was observed that for some interviewees, overcoming the lack of a parent brought ambivalences: as alive, they were absent; as dead, they became present. The suicidal act may denounce a family dynamic in which breaking of bonds has already happened, in other words, the stress was experienced before, during and after the suicide. Therefore, suicide was not a triggering factor, but, instead, the process as a whole. When the child survives the suicide of one of its parents, one can have an experience whose suffering causes guilt, anger, resentment, helplessness and abandonment, loneliness, lack of opportunity by not having received lap time, soothing, care, love and guidance. It was considered that, although death is forever, grief is a dynamic process, in which bereaved ones try to manage a diversity of feelings and thoughts: besides the necessity of comprehending death, comes the redefinition of their role in the family. Also noteworthy is the silence and isolation of the deponents. The isolation seems to happen for mixed and not shared feelings not to be mobilized, that threaten the comfort zone so hardly conquered by those who survived. What is silenced is the suffering, the doubt and the stigma. It was identified that parental suicide is a unique experience that allows the person to discover and develop coping strategies in their grieving process

O suicídio é uma morte repentina e violenta, que choca. Pode provocar indignação, pois causa em quem ficou um hiato, em relação à experiência de dizer adeus àquele que é amado. A morte autoinfligida causa sofrimento e, por isso, o enlutado por suicídio é reconhecido como sobrevivente. Este estudo teve como objetivo a compreensão do processo de luto do(a) filho(a) da pessoa que cometeu o suicídio. Jamison (2010), Alvarez (1999) e Shneidman (1985; 1993) foram os principais autores que fundamentaram a discussão sobre o suicídio. As obras de Parkes (1998; 2009), Franco (2002; 2010), Kovács (1992; 2003) e Clark (2001; 2007), as fontes básicas consultadas para a compreensão do processo de luto. Trata-se de pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, tendo como participantes 9 (nove) filhos de indivíduos que cometeram o suicídio. Os princípios éticos de sigilo, privacidade, confidencialidade, não identificação dos dados do colaborador e liberdade de participação foram respeitados. Os depoimentos foram gravados com a anuência dos entrevistados e realizados: entrevista para a coleta de depoimento, de aproximadamente 3 (três) horas de duração e 2 (dois) contatos por e-mail para enviar a transcrição das entrevistas, e outro, depois da análise dos dados, para compartilhar com o colaborador a compreensão da pesquisadora. As unidades de significados foram extraídas conforme o método fenomenológico (Moustakas, 1994) e compreendidas pela perspectiva da abordagem da Gestalt-terapia. Observou-se que para alguns entrevistados, a superação da falta do progenitor trouxe ambivalências: vivos, foram ausentes; mortos, tornaram-se presentes. O ato suicida pode denunciar uma dinâmica familiar cujo rompimento de vínculos já acontecia, ou seja, o estresse foi experienciado antes, durante e depois do suicídio. Portanto, o suicídio não foi fator precipitante, mas, sim, o processo como um todo. Quando o filho sobrevive ao suicídio de um dos genitores pode ter uma experiência cujo sofrimento provoca culpa, raiva, ressentimentos, sensação de desamparo e de abandono, solidão, falta de oportunidade por não ter recebido colo, acalanto, cuidado, amor e direção. Considerou-se que, embora a morte seja para sempre, o luto é um processo dinâmico, no qual os enlutados tentam administrar uma diversidade de sentimentos e pensamentos: além da necessidade de compreender a morte, surge a redefinição de seu papel na família. Destaca-se também o calar e o isolamento dos depoentes. O isolamento parece acontecer para que não sejam mobilizados os sentimentos confusos e não compartilhados, que ameaçam a zona de conforto tão arduamente conquistada pelos que sobreviveram. O que se cala é o sofrimento, a dúvida e o estigma. Identificou-se que o suicídio parental é uma vivência ímpar, que permite à pessoa descobrir e desenvolver estratégias de enfrentamento em seu processo de luto / Suicide is a sudden and violent death, which shocks. It may cause outrage, as it causes a gap in those who remained, in relation to the experience of saying goodbye to the one who is loved. The self-inflicted death causes suffering and, thus, the bereaved by suicide is recognized as a survivor. This study had as goal the comprehension of the grieving process of the offspring of the person who committed suicide. Jamison (2010), Alvarez (1999) and Shneidman (1985; 1993) were the main authors who grounded the discussion about suicide. The works of Parkes (1998; 2009), Franco (2002; 2010), Kovács (1992; 2003) and Clark (2001; 2007), the basic sources consulted to the comprehension of the grieving process. It is a research of qualitative nature, having as participants nine (9) offspring of individuals who committed suicide. The ethical principles of secrecy, privacy, confidentiality, no identification of the data of the collaborators and freedom of participation were respected. The testimonies were recorded with the consent of the interviewees and carried out: interview - to collect the testimony, approximately three (3) hours long - and two (2) contacts by e-mail one to send the transcripts of the interviews, and other after analyzing the data, to share with the collaborator the comprehension of the researcher. The units of meaning were extracted according to the phenomenological method (Moustakas, 1994) and understood through the perspective of the Gestalt-Therapy approach. It was observed that for some interviewees, overcoming the lack of a parent brought ambivalences: as alive, they were absent; as dead, they became present. The suicidal act may denounce a family dynamic in which breaking of bonds has already happened, in other words, the stress was experienced before, during and after the suicide. Therefore, suicide was not a triggering factor, but, instead, the process as a whole. When the child survives the suicide of one of its parents, one can have an experience whose suffering causes guilt, anger, resentment, helplessness and abandonment, loneliness, lack of opportunity by not having received lap time, soothing, care, love and guidance. It was considered that, although death is forever, grief is a dynamic process, in which bereaved ones try to manage a diversity of feelings and thoughts: besides the necessity of comprehending death, comes the redefinition of their role in the family. Also noteworthy is the silence and isolation of the deponents. The isolation seems to happen for mixed and not shared feelings not to be mobilized, that threaten the comfort zone so hardly conquered by those who survived. What is silenced is the suffering, the doubt and the stigma. It was identified that parental suicide is a unique experience that allows the person to discover and develop coping strategies in their grieving process

Psykologer är en utav de yrkesgrupper som löper störst risk att under sin karriär mista en patient i suicid. Trots det saknas svenska studier på psykologer och deras arbete med suicidala patienter. Föreliggande studie syftade därför till att öka kunskap och förståelse för psykologers föreställningar om patientsuicid samt hur de upplever att det talas om det. Sju semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med psykologer som inte hade egen erfarenhet av patientsuicid. Dessa analyserades utifrån en tematisk analys, vilken resulterade i fyra teman: Mellan förnuft och känsla, Två sidor av samma mynt, Ensam är inte stark och Individen bakom statistiken. Resultatet visade att enskilda psykologer och organisationer (universitet och arbetsplatser) hanterar och talar om suicidalitet på olika sätt. De olika aktörernas förhållningsätt bottnar antingen i förnuftet, i känslan eller i båda delar. Arbetet med suicidala patienter karakteriseras av oförutsägbarhet där kollegorna utgör ett viktigt stöd för psykologen i detta arbete. Därtill framkom att både den enskilda psykologen och samhället i stort har en vilja att humanisera den suicidala patienten. Slutligen verkar psykologers möte med suicidalitet vara ett underprioriterat ämne, vilket är framträdande både inom forskning, utbildning och på arbetsplatser. / Psychologists are one of the professions that are at a higher risk of losing a patient to suicide. Despite this, there is a lack of Swedish studies focusing on psychologists and their encounter with suicidal patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to increase knowledge and understanding for the notions that psychologists have regarding patient suicide and their opinions about how it is being talked about. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with psychologists who themselves had not lost a patient to suicide. The interviews were analysed through a thematic analysis which resulted in four themes: Between sense and sensibility, Two sides of the same coin, Alone is not strong and The individual behind the statistics. The findings showed that psychologists and the organizations (universities and workplaces) they were or had been a part of, were handling and talking about suicidality in different ways. The approach these different actors had to patient suicide was based on either sense, sensibility, or both. Working with suicidal patients is characterized by unpredictability thus highlighting that colleagues make up an important source of support. Furthermore, results showed that both individual psychologists and the society at large have a desire to humanize the suicidal patient. Finally, psychologists' encounter with suicidality seems to be an under-prioritized area, which is prominent in both research, education and in workplaces.

Considering the high incidence of suicide in the South African context, the fact that suicide is considered an occupational hazard for psychologists, with more than half experiencing the suicide of a patient in their career and the dearth of post-suicide qualitative research among psychologists, the purpose of this study is to explore and describe the experience of psychologists after the suicide of their patient, and to develop guidelines as a framework of reference to assist psychologists in dealing with the suicide of their patient. In keeping with a social constructionist ontological and ecosystemic epistemological theoretical framework, data was collected by means of meaning-making conversations with six purposively selected psychologists, with a minimum of five years‟ experience and at least one year having passed after the suicide of their patient. The data was analysed independently by the researcher and an independent coder using Tesch‟s open and descriptive method. The present study found that, following the suicide of their patient, the participants were propelled into a myriad of acutely distressing emotions. They often described a suffocating sense of responsibility for the suicide and the lingering presence of their patient. The participants experienced feelings of guilt and self-doubt, often questioning their own professional competence. The post-suicide process was described as being both a personally and professionally isolating event, due to the sense of having to carry the burden of the suicide alone for ethical reasons and fear of social stigmatisation. The participants appeared to grapple with the paradoxical dance between their personal emotional realities and what they perceived to be “clinically” or “professionally” acceptable. Having gone through the traumatic experience of losing a patient to suicide, most of the participants eventually found new wisdom, which helped them become wounded healers. Based on these findings, post-vention guidelines with practical actions were developed to assist psychologists in dealing with the suicide of their patient. Recommendations are made with regard to suicidology research, suicide education and psychologists‟ practice. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Suicide holds an ambivalent position in contemporary social and cultural contexts. It questions what it means to live and die, yet provides no clear-cut answers about death or dying, life or living. This thesis explores some of the ways suicide has been understood and represented, to demonstrate that knowing suicide is dependent not only on what suicide means, but also on how meanings of suicide become part of knowledge. Knowing suicide is not a matter of responding to it as self-evident, transparent, neutral and obvious, but rather is implicated in social processes and norms central to how knowledge gains intelligibility. Guided by poststructuralist, postmodernist, feminist and postfeminist philosophies, the thesis takes up gender and gendering as its central focus, to interrogate how knowledge about suicide becomes knowledge. Critically examining a wide variety of textual sources, it argues that suicide is principally rendered as a masculine, and even a masculinist, practice. Knowing suicide today is anchored in suicidology - the study of suicide - and maintained by institutional sites of practice including sociology, law, medicine, psy-knowledge and newsprint media, each of which is analysed here. Suicide as masculine and masculinist practice is invoked through multiple, often-contradictory and inextricably linked readings of gender, even while claiming homogeneity. Its gendered foundations can however be made to appear gender-neutral, even when actually gender-saturated. The twin gender movements of neutrality and repleteness are in fact crucial to the knowing of suicide. The thesis establishes that knowing suicide can never occur outside discourse. Even more importantly, how suicide enters discourse cannot be thought outside gender. The body matters to the production of deeply problematic understandings of agency, intent and violence, on which the production of suicide as masculine and masculinist depends. It becomes clear that such dependence rests not only on gender, but also on race and sexuality, as conditions of its knowing. The thesis suggests that further attention be given to the production and maintenance of highly reductive and limiting homogenous truth claims in suicide - truth claims that validate and privilege some interpretations of suicide, at the expense of rendering others less legitimate and serious. If the processes and practices of interpreting suicide become a site of permanent debate, they are more likely to challenge the ways in which masculinist ways of knowing render, and limit, the intelligibility of suicide.

Considering the high incidence of suicide in the South African context, the fact that suicide is considered an occupational hazard for psychologists, with more than half experiencing the suicide of a patient in their career and the dearth of post-suicide qualitative research among psychologists, the purpose of this study is to explore and describe the experience of psychologists after the suicide of their patient, and to develop guidelines as a framework of reference to assist psychologists in dealing with the suicide of their patient. In keeping with a social constructionist ontological and ecosystemic epistemological theoretical framework, data was collected by means of meaning-making conversations with six purposively selected psychologists, with a minimum of five years‟ experience and at least one year having passed after the suicide of their patient. The data was analysed independently by the researcher and an independent coder using Tesch‟s open and descriptive method. The present study found that, following the suicide of their patient, the participants were propelled into a myriad of acutely distressing emotions. They often described a suffocating sense of responsibility for the suicide and the lingering presence of their patient. The participants experienced feelings of guilt and self-doubt, often questioning their own professional competence. The post-suicide process was described as being both a personally and professionally isolating event, due to the sense of having to carry the burden of the suicide alone for ethical reasons and fear of social stigmatisation. The participants appeared to grapple with the paradoxical dance between their personal emotional realities and what they perceived to be “clinically” or “professionally” acceptable. Having gone through the traumatic experience of losing a patient to suicide, most of the participants eventually found new wisdom, which helped them become wounded healers. Based on these findings, post-vention guidelines with practical actions were developed to assist psychologists in dealing with the suicide of their patient. Recommendations are made with regard to suicidology research, suicide education and psychologists‟ practice. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)