Life after surviving a suicide attempt

PhD Thesis


Roberts, A. 2016. Life after surviving a suicide attempt. PhD Thesis Canterbury Christ Church University Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology
AuthorsRoberts, A.
TypePhD Thesis
Qualification nameDClinPsychol
Abstract

Investigating the experience of life after a suicide attempt, and understanding how people find meaning and go on living, is important for developing appropriate responses. This study explored the unique lived experience of life after surviving a suicide attempt. Seven adults were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviews were transcribed and subjected to an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Four themes emerged, each with subthemes: relationship to suicide (the ongoing-ness of suicide, in-between-ness), relationship to healing (proceeding differently, freedom to heal, being regarded), relationship to self (encountering oneself, authentic being), and relationship to life (living with meaning, connectedness and belonging, curiosity and uncertainty). An overall theme of transformation emerged from the analysis. The opportunity for transformation can be experienced as ongoing crisis and can lead to deeper personal meaning if facilitated appropriately. Having meaning and purpose in life were experienced as essential to living. It is recommended clinical psychologists, and others, be prepared for the unpredictability of transformation and adapt existing practices where needed.

Keywordsattempted suicide; healing; surviving; qualitative research; interpretative phenomenological analysis
Year2016
Supplemental file
File Access Level
Restricted
Publication process dates
Deposited20 Oct 2016
Accepted2016
Output statusUnpublished
Accepted author manuscript
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https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/87y45/life-after-surviving-a-suicide-attempt

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