Strategies to Stay Alive

Adaptive Toolboxes for Living Well with Suicidal Behavior

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15501895
AutoresBonnie Scarth (0000-0002-5123-3520, Primary Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Postvention, WellSouth Primary Health Network, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand, autor de correspondencia), Jesse M Bering (0000-0002-1501-702X, University of Otago), Ian Marsh (0000-0003-3576-4724, Canterbury Christ Church University), Vilma Santiago‐irizarry (0000-0002-3087-4783, Cornell University), Karl Andriessen (0000-0002-3107-1114, The University of Melbourne)
Año2021
Volumen18
Número15
Páginas8013-8013
Fecha de publicación2021-07-29
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditorialMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18158013
PMID34360306
OpenAlexW3183565780
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas28

Suicidal behavior constitutes a major global problem. Qualitative research utilizing the first-hand experiences of those who have survived attempts to take their own lives can offer much in the way of understanding how to live well despite ongoing suicidal behavior. Given that suicidal intentions and behaviors occur within the person's subjective construal, the solutions to living-and preferably living well-despite such inclinations must also be subjective and adaptive. The aim of this study was therefore to understand how individuals live with different aspects of their suicidal behavior and their use of effective strategies to protect themselves from future attempts. Thematic analysis of semi-structured, qualitative interviews with 17 participants with lived experience of suicidal behavior from the USA yielded two main themes: (i) the 'dynamic relationship with suicidal behavior: living with, and through', and (ii) 'the toolbox'. Each of these themes had four subthemes. Participants in this study offered important insights into what helped them not just survive ongoing suicidal behavior, but how they created unique toolboxes to continue living, and to live well. These toolboxes contained personalized solutions to dealing with recurring threats to their subjective wellbeing and included diverse solutions from spirituality, pets, peer-support, participating in the arts, through to traditional therapeutic supports. Some participants also discussed the importance of broader social policy and societal changes that help them live. The findings highlight crucial implications for suicide prevention efforts, especially in terms of encouraging collaborations with the lived experience community and furthering a strengths-based approach to mitigating suicidal behaviors. We encourage the clinical community to work in partnership with service-users to enable them to generate effective solutions to living-and living well-through suicidal behavior

Adaptive behavior · Developmental psychology · Medical emergency · Poison control · Suicidal behavior · Suicide prevention · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies