Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Contents
Executive summary....................................................................... 1
Structure of the report................................................................. 4
Introduction................................................................................5
Aim....................................................................................11
Methodology.........................................................................11
Limitations...........................................................................13
Barriers to communication..................................................... 21
Professional support.............................................................. 23
Conclusion................................................................................31
Recommendations...................................................................... 33
References................................................................................ 36
Appendices............................................................................... 37
Executive summary
Executive summary
Suicide is a serious worldwide health concern and is the
fifteenth highest cause of death across all countries (WHO,
2014). The Australian Bureau of Statistics has recently
reported the highest suicide rate in the past decade, with
2,535 Australian lives lost to suicide in 2012 (ABS, 2014).
For every person who dies by suicide, it is estimated that 20
more people attempt to take their life. Attempted suicide is
the single biggest risk factor associated with death by suicide
(WHO, 2014). It is crucial that we better understand what
helps or hinders people who attempt suicide in order to reduce
the suicide rate. Although the field of suicidology is expanding,
research and suicide prevention initiatives to date have focused
predominantly on expert opinion (academic and clinical) and
rely heavily on quantitative studies or data from other countries.
There is a gap in the current literature regarding the exploration
of the lived experience of Australians who attempt suicide.
Findings
Historical risk factors
Adverse events from peoples past that may have placed the
participants at greater risk of attempting suicide included:
childhood abuse and/or neglect, trauma (unspecified), suicide
bereavement, the death of a parent in early life, bullying, and
grief and loss associated with Aboriginal cultural identity.
Triggering influences at the time of the suicide attempt
Participants identified a number of psychosocial factors that
were influential at the time of the attempt including: the impact
of mental illness, suicide bereavement, lack of professional
support, interpersonal relationship problems, pressures of work,
drug and alcohol misuse, experiencing abuse or sexual assault,
and being in year 12 or starting university. Mental illness and
suicide bereavement were very prevalent within our sample
with 87% and 58% of participants reporting these respectively.
The narrative style of this research captured how, for many
of the participants, it was the interaction of a range of these
psychosocial factors that led to the suicide attempt.
Emotional state at the time of the attempt
Individuals described a range of intense emotions leading
up to and after their suicide attempt. The interviews clearly
documented the intense emotional pain, disconnect and
hopelessness that many felt. Participants also mentioned
feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and trapped with no other
option; some experienced constant intrusive thoughts of
suicide. When reflecting on surviving their attempt, participants
reported feeling confused, angry, ashamed, and regretful,
although, several participants also reported feeling grateful at
having survived.
When reading this report, be mindful that the topics discussed may cause distressing
emotions or memories to surface. If thinking about these issues has caused you distress, or you
have been thinking about suicide, please call:
f Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
f Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
f SANE Helpline 1800 18 7263 www.sane.org
1
Barriers to communication
Within our sample, 67% did not communicate their thoughts
or feelings of suicide prior to their attempt. Common themes
revolved around a fear of rejection or negative reactions from
others, feeling that they were unworthy or could not be helped,
feeling unable to open up or not knowing what to say, or not
wanting to worry others.
Talking to family and friends after the suicide attempt was
a difficult issue for many of the participants. Some found
that family or friends did not want to engage in conversation
about it, were judgemental, or found it difficult to understand.
However one-third of participants described positive instances
where they were well supported. Support and understanding
from family and friends was considered as important as
professional support to their ongoing recovery.
Professional support
Difficulty accessing effective treatment and/or support from
professionals was the most commonly reported barrier to an
individuals recovery journey. Of our sample, 25 people talked
about their experience of hospital and the majority (80%)
described negative experiences, although 50% also reported
positive interactions. The most commonly reported problem
with hospital was being discharged too early or having difficulty
being admitted in the first place. Others described hospital as
traumatic, stressful, or distressing; nearly one-third of people
felt that they were not taken seriously or were misunderstood.
Many participants also talked about being negatively affected
by other patients who were severely unwell, or by staff whom
they felt were judgemental or disrespectful.
Participants also sought help from health professionals such
as GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, and counsellors in the
community. People described a huge amount of variation in
terms of their helpfulness and success in treatment, with some
describing unhelpful or stigmatising attitudes. Although finding
appropriate professional support was sometimes convoluted
and frustrating, developing a positive and empathetic
relationship with a health professional was a key factor in their
recovery.
Executive summary
Introduction
Suicide is a serious worldwide health concern and is the fifteenth highest cause of death across
all countries (WHO, 2014). The Australian Bureau of Statistics has recently reported the highest
suicide rate in Australia in ten years, with 2535 lives being lost to suicide in 2012 (ABS, 2014).
Forevery person who dies by suicide it can be estimated that 20 more people attempt to take their
life but do not die (WHO, 2014). So far in Australia, much of the research into suicide and suicide
prevention has focused on expert opinion, quantitative studies, or data from other countries.
There is a gap in the literature regarding the exploration of the stories of Australians who attempt
suicide and how such lived experience can inform improvements to our suicide prevention efforts.
SANE Australia, together with researchers from the University of New England, examined the
experiences of people who have attempted suicide in Australia. This research is important
because it gives voice to an often stigmatised and overlooked group of people, many of whom
are eager to share their stories in order to try and help others who may be in a similar situation.
Qualitative research such as this aims to add depth to our understanding and helps us to examine
the complexity of factors that can help or hinder suicidal individuals. Attempted suicide is the
single biggest risk factor to eventually dying by suicide, so by understanding how we can help and
support people both before and after attempted suicide, we can work towards making a significant
reduction in the suicide rate in Australia.
Literature review
Literature review
Aim, methodology,
and limitations
10
Methodology
The researchers undertook a qualitative methodology, carrying
out 31 semi-structured interviews over the telephone with people
from around Australia. The sample was a convenience one,
and participants were recruited through advertisements using
SANE Australia and the University of New Englands online
communication networks, Facebook, email, and newsletters, plus
two radio interviews aired in NSW and QLD.
Approximately 70 people responded to the call-out for
participants, resulting in 31 completed interviews taking between
30-60 minutes. The sample comprised of 7 men and 24 women.
Participants were over 18 years old (range 19-72 years) and their
most recent suicide attempt had to be more than six months
ago (range 6 months-40 years). The criteria for inclusion in the
research are detailed in Appendix 1. This study received ethics
approval through the UNE Human Research Ethics Committee
(No.HE13-245).
Given that recruitment was via media interest in the project and
is not representative, not all States in Australia are represented.
Themajority came from NSW (12) and Victoria (11), with the
others coming from QLD (3) SA (3) and WA (2). Eight of the
participants were from regional or remote areas with all others
coming from metropolitan areas.
Each person who made contact with the researchers was sent
participant information, consent forms and resources from SANE
Australia including referrals and crisis numbers. Of the 70 people
who contacted researchers, 35 people chose to participate. Before
the interview began, a screening and crisis assessment was
undertaken to ensure that the individual met inclusion criteria and
was not at immediate risk of suicidal thinking or behaviours (see
Appendix 1). This process resulted in one person being screened
out because their most recent suicide attempt was less than six
months ago. Three participants were not available at the time
of the interview and did not take part in the study. No one was
screened out because they were currently experiencing a suicidal
crisis and all participants said that they were happy to talk about
their suicide attempt/s and had appropriate supports in place.
Interview questions were semi-structured and covered four main
topic areas:
f What led the person to attempt to take their own life
f What professional supports the person accessed before and
after the attempt/s
f Talking to family and friends about the attempt
f How things have improved, and strengths uncovered.
(See Appendix 2 for full interview questions.)
Questions that were addressed to the participants during both the
screening interview and the main interview informed us about
their suicide attempts and general mental health. The following
two charts provide an overview of the participants suicide history.
11
6%
4+ attempts
39%
1 attempt
23%
2-3 attempts
32%
6-10 years
2-5 years
10+ years
12
6 months-2 years
10
Limitations
As with any research there are limitations as to how far we
can extrapolate results to a wider population. As this is a
qualitative report with a relatively small sample size, extra
caution should be used when making generalisations about the
findings. Furthermore, the sample is one of convenience, and is
not representative. For example, many of the participants were
recruited though a mental health charity (SANE Australia) and
affiliated organisations, therefore the number of people with
mental illness may be greater in the current research pool than
is typical of those who attempt suicide.
Despite these limitations, qualitative studies such as these
provide an important opportunity to add detail and depth of
understanding to issues such as attempted suicide. When we
view the results in context with other qualitative and quantitative
studies, we can start to build up a picture of what helps and
hinders those who attempt suicide and how we can help this
vulnerable population.
13
14
No.
17
55%
55%
16
52%
11
35%
Non-judgemental,
understanding attitudes from
others
16%
f professional support
f stigma and judgemental attitudes
f factors that promote recovery
f important messages from the participants.
Where particular issues are mentioned, the number of
participants who expressed this is provided in brackets.
Allparticipants are referred to by a pseudonym and their
listed age is as at the time of the interview. As an overview of
the results, the following tables summarise the top five issues
that were most often mentioned as helping or hindering the
participants at the time of their suicide attempt.
15
No.
Difficulty accessing
treatment and/or appropriate
professional support
20
65%
Stigmatising, judgemental
attitudes from others
13
42%
10
32%
Difficulty communicating
about suicide (from them
and others)
29%
23%
Relationship problems
20
15
10
5
0
s
lnes
a
reni
zoph
Schi
ng
Eati
osis
iagn
No d
D
PTS
BPD
iety
Anx
la
Bipo
iple
Mult
ion
ress
Dep
l
tal i
men
Any
17
18
All they did was just keep me drugged up, but it didnt stop the
paranoia and thats where most of the suicide attempts have come
from . . . to get away from that paranoia.
Josh (33)
Bereaved by suicide
Eighteen of the 31 participants had been bereaved by suicide
(58%). Four people had lost a parent to suicide, three people a
sibling, five people another close relative (such as grandparent,
cousin or aunt), nine people had lost a friend, and five people
had lost more than one person to suicide. Research indicates
that individuals who have known someone who has attempted
suicide or died by suicide are significantly more likely to
experience suicidal ideation or attempt suicide in their lifetime
(De Leo et al. 2005). A recent review of the literature by
Pitman et al (2014) examining data from 57 studies looking
at the impact of suicide bereavement, shows that exposure to
suicide of a family member is associated with several negative
health and social outcomes, including suicidality. These effects
include an increased risk of suicide in partners bereaved by
suicide, increased risk of required admission to psychiatric care
for parents bereaved by the suicide of offspring, increased risk
of suicide in mothers bereaved by an adult childs suicide, and
increased risk of depression in people bereaved by the suicide
of a parent. Reviewing the literature on non-kin relationships,
Maple et al (under review) also found increased suicide risk
among those exposed to suicide of other close contacts.
Nine of the people who were bereaved spoke of the negative
impact that that had on their lives and, for some, how it
heightened their own risk of suicide. For example:
I think its probably what saved me, because she (my mother) took
pills. And, I was sitting there with a tray of pills, I was about to
take it all . . . and I had this flash, about . . . looking at what we
went through when mum passed away, and, you know, I couldnt
do it again . . . You know, you get it in your head that youre doing
everybody else a favour, and I dont know, just at that moment, I
thought, well, no, no . . . Im not, because dads going to have to go
through it all again, my brothers going to have to go through it all
again.
Michelle (29)
Maria (35)
19
20
When I was in the place where I was with my last attempt, it wasnt
selfish. For me, it was the most selfless thing I could do. Remove
myself from the equation and prevent damage to the people I cared
about. It wasnt for me about ending my life and making it stop.
Itwas about protecting other people which now, I can look back
and go, What? But at the time, it made perfect sense. Everyone
would be better off without me.
Maria (35)
I didnt ever think Id get to that point, and I did. And, yeah, it just
felt stupid, I think. You know, seeing what with mum, and all
the attempts that shed had that wed been able to stop, and then, I
didnt have the I was going, You idiot, what are you doing? I felt
really dumb, really empty, really just lost I was lost and then, I
think from that point I was in a bit of a haze until they took me to
hospital.
Michelle (29)
Barriers to communication
This section examines whether or not people talked about
their suicidal feelings or behaviours either before or after the
attempt. Two-thirds of people (67%) did not tell anyone of
their suicidal feelings prior to the attempt. A major barrier
to people communicating was their fear of the reaction they
might encounter from others (9). Several people talked about
not feeling worthy of help (3), not knowing how to talk about
their feelings (3), or not wanting to worry others about their
problems (2). Four participants talked about being very good
at hiding their feelings from others. There were also cultural
21
I was able to put on such a good face because thats what I had
learned, but it could be the person sitting down next to you laughing
to you telling a joke that they could be in a really stressed place.
That was the stumbling block for me because I didnt show the
depths of barrenness that I was carrying within myself and my
thoughts.
Zoe (52)
But I think with suicide . . . a lot of people dont really talk about
it and I think its perhaps because theres a shame factor that you
often feel . . . because people think suicide is a very selfish act and
. . . I think depression is more understood but I still think suicide is
a bit of a taboo area because people think it is a very selfish thing
to do, and so if you have felt suicidal or if you have an attempt and
were unsuccessful you almost sort of feel a sense of shame . . . for
feeling that way.
Martina (42)
I looked my dad in the eye and said, Im going for a walk. And had
already swallowed, I dont know how many pills. And I looked at
him and said, Im going for a walk. And I knew full well that my
intention was that Id never see him again, because I was hoping
that the walking would speed up the absorption of all the drugs
. . . I was really good at hiding everything . . . I have amazing
parents that were just always there for me and I had a great
upbringing and a great life and I felt I dont know. I think I
wanted to protect them.
Vicky (29)
I think that a lot of the suffering comes from not feeling like youre
worthy enough to even discuss it with someone else. You know what
I mean? That no one would want to hear what youve got to say, and
I dont know how you could change that in someone . . . just to sort
of encourage more people to talk somehow, especially guys, I think,
too because its such a huge thing of being strong and not speaking
and the hardest thing is speaking when youre overwhelmed with
emotion. Its almost as though your brain doesnt allow you to
connect to your words, but thats exactly what you have to do, to be
able to express what youre feeling and to not commit suicide.
Tracey (42)
22
They [family] sort of told me they were glad I was still around and
then moved on and everyone was a bit scared of talking about it I
suppose, and I was quite glad of that. I didnt want to talk about it
either.
Emma (26)
I have some friends who were fantastic through that time and who
actually had also experienced being suicidal not at the same time
as me but who were very helpful because they could just kind of
cope with just hanging out and . . . knowing that I felt like absolute
shit but would kind of cope with that. So that was, yes, great.
Jessica (36)
When I told my brother, he didnt know until I went down to see him
a couple of months later. He was shocked. Hes still trying to come to
terms with it. He . . . wants to understand it, I think, but he doesnt
understand it at all. He cant understand the fact that his brother
tried to commit suicide . . . he finds it really difficult to get into his
brain.
Barry (72)
And he [Dad] has been really supportive and I do talk to him about
it. And he still, even though his current wife doesnt like it, hell
still talk to us about mum . . . when were on our own, well talk
about the attempt, and the actual suicide, and its been more so lately
because Dads best friends son just committed suicide a week ago.
Michelle (29)
23
Professional support
The participants in this study talked about many different
occasions when they sought professional help both prior
to and after their attempt. This professional help included
visiting doctors, psychologists or counsellors, psychiatrists,
calling helplines, presenting at emergency departments,
being hospitalised, or attending community-based mental
health services. There was a huge amount of variation in their
experiences ranging from life-saving to dismissive. Most people
experienced a variety of both helpful and unhelpful interactions
with professionals, and many described a long and complicated
path before finding appropriate support. Difficulty accessing
appropriate professional support was reported by two-thirds of
people as the biggest hindrance to their recovery. Conversely,
having access to good professional support and treatments
was the most helpful factor. This section will first describe
the experiences of people when in hospital, (emergency
departments, intensive care or psychiatric hospitals), and will
then examine the support they received via community-based
services such as General Practitioners (GPs), psychologists,
psychiatrists, and counsellors.
24
I stayed about three days in the acute unit, mainly because it was the
weekend. And the psychiatrist that released me is my current one
. . . and I was just talking to her the other day and said You know,
its funny how even as late as 2006, I was released without any
money, without any shoes, without any follow-up plan and she said,
Oh my God! Did I do that? Im like, Well actually you did, and
she goes, Oh, I was new. I didnt know what I was doing.
Matthew (46)
Well actually they let me out two days later, saying they needed the
bed. Yeah, that really crushed me you know? I said to the doctors
but I just tried to kill myself . . . and they said oh, but we need the
bed.
Josh (33)
Hospital staff did some things that no one in my whole life had ever
done. This young girl, she was a mental health nurse, and she put
her arm around me, and I just cried. And she didnt try and make it
better, she didnt try and give me advice, she just sat there and put
her arm around me and just let me cry until I stopped.
[My GP] heard about my suicide attempt, and she actually tried to
find me through the system because she was absolutely gorgeous
and she couldnt believe what she heard . . . I was very embarrassed
when I went back to see her, but I thought I had to do that and she
was absolutely gorgeous about it so in that way, I talk about it very
openly to her.
Barry (72)
25
By this stage, Id been to all the local doctors where I lived and
they there was only two and they both told me I was a normal
teenager. And yet I was there screaming for help saying, This isnt
right . . . I dont know whats wrong, but I dont I shouldnt
have to feel this way all the time. And they both told me I was a
normal teenager and everyone felt like this. The next time I saw that
doctor, I had a gut full of pills.
Vicky (29)
My GP is lovely and Ive been seeing him since the children were
born, so about six years. He was lovely, but mostly inadequately
prepared to be able to deal with the suicide attempt and the
aftermath of it. Very supportive kind of guy, but just didnt or
doesnt have the I dont know. Maybe because I dont fit the
stereotype of what people think about mental illness, maybe?
Hesaid these things like, Your children are so fabulous and your
partners so fabulous and youre so fabulous, I never wouldve
picked that you have these issues.
Maria (35)
26
I think if you were to put a hundred people in a circle and you say
to them, Whos heard of suicide? Has anyone been affected by it?
Youll have almost every hand raised. People just dont talk about
it because its stigmatised, and so is mental health, tenfold. Mental
health is so stigmatised, . . . I found it so bad where Im working
now that I kind of wonder if it was someone that wasnt as strong,
whether theyd be able to deal with it. How would they cope?
Monique (37)
Living in a small town, coming home to the rumours and the gossip
and Look out. Thats the crazy chick. Small towns are great for
mental health. They really are. They do wonders. Its half the reason
I was there in the first place. So that was not helpful. There was no
anonymity. There was no-one that didnt know that I had just got
out of a psych [ward] and everyone actually knew what that meant.
Vicky (29)
Emma (26)
27
28
Yeah. I mean, aside of all the usual stuff, Ive learned to be more
aware of my own emotional state and stuff like that. Ive learned
about my weaknesses. Im terrible at communicating which is a real
problem. And I can get through a lot, and that just because I feel
suicidal, it doesnt mean I have to kill myself.
Meghan (19)
I think its watching for signs, if that makes sense, and not for
reasons. I think people often think, Well nothings happened for
this person, nothing challenging has happened, so they couldnt be
in that sort of catastrophic state. And I think people can be in that
catastrophic state even though nothing in particular or of great
importance or a significant challenge has happened.
Liz (47)
29
Conclusion
Conclusion
The results of this study add depth of understanding to the lived experience of having attempted
suicide, particularly to what can help or hinder those who attempt. The results mirror themes found
in several earlier studies, especially around the complexity of factors that lead people to suicide and
the accompanying intense pain and feelings of hopelessness and burdensomeness. They highlight
two reasons why health services are so important to peoples recovery. First, health professionals
can play such a positive role in helping people understand and manage their suicidal thoughts and
behaviours. Second, if professionals and services fail to engage with people in a way that validates,
supports, and follows them up, such interactions can become a huge barrier to seeking further
professional support and can increase peoples feelings of worthlessness.
Being understood and accepted by people in the wider community is also crucial. Negative attitudes
about mental illness and suicide can prevent people from speaking out about their feelings.
However, the care and understanding of family and peers cannot be underestimated. When carers
are adequately educated they can play an important role in helping individuals to monitor their
mental health and link them with professional supports. A resounding message is that people who
attempt suicide can recover and those who have survived an attempt are often stronger and more
resilient. As Alison says:
A lot of people think that people who dont understand or people who are in the midst of it think
that having a mental illness or feeling like committing suicide or even trying to commit suicide,
that its a weakness. And my long-term experience is that it is quite the reverse that to continue
to survive, to continue to live with that much pain, especially if you dont have help, and adequate
support is it takes an enormous amount of strength.
The results highlight the variety of factors that can aid people in their recovery and the need to
encourage a multifaceted approach to supporting those who have attempted suicide one that does
not just rely on a medical response, but also includes reducing stigma and isolation, peer support,
empowering carers, and helping to improve peoples communication about their suicide thoughts
and feelings.
31
Recommendations
32
Recommendations
It is crucial that we include peoples experience of attempted
suicide in our research and suicide prevention efforts.
Thankfully. there are a number of other such research
projects being undertaken in Australia which together will
help to give us a clearer picture of why people attempt suicide
and what can be done to support them. Although the current
research does have a limited sample size, we can still see a
number of opportunities that warrant further examination.
33
34
35
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2014). Causes of Death Australia
2012. Cat No. 3303.0. Canberra, Australia: ABS.
Beyondblue (2014). Guiding their way back: a resource for people
who are supporting someone after a suicide attempt.
www.beyondblue.org.au/thewayback
Cavanagh, J.T., Carson, A.J., Sharpe, M. & Lawrie (2003).
Psychological autopsy studies of suicide: a systematic review.
Psychological Medicine (33), 395-405.
Chesley, K., & Loring-McNulty N.E (2003) Process of suicide:
Perspective of the suicide attempter. Journal of the American
Psychiatric Nurses Association, 41(9), 41-5.
Chesney, E., Goodwin, G. M., & Fazel, S. (2014). Risks of allcause and suicide mortality in mental disorders: a meta-review.
World Psychiatry, 13(2), 153-160.
De Leo, D., Cerin, E., Spathonis, K., Burgis, S. (2005).
Lifetime risk of suicide ideation and attempts in an Australian
community: Prevalence, suicidal process, and help-seeking
behaviour. Journal of Affective Disorders, 86, p215-224.
Dube, S.R., Anda, R.F., Felitti, V.J., Chapman, D.P., Williamson,
D.F., Giles, W.H. (2001). Childhood abuse, household
dysfunction, and the risk of attempted suicide throughout the
lifespan. Findings from the adverse childhood experiences study.
Journal of the American Medical Association, 286 (24).
Gair, S. & Camilleri, P. (2003). Attempting suicide and helpseeking behaviours: using stories from young people to inform
social work practice. Australian Social Work, 56(2), 83-93.
Ghio, L., Zanelli, E., Gotelli, S., Rossi, P., Natta W. & Gabrielli
F. (2011). Involving patients who attempt suicide in suicide
prevention: a focus groups study. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental
Health Nursing, 18, 510-518.
Hjelmeland, H., & Knizek, B. L. (2010). Why we need
qualitative research in suicidology. Suicide & Life-Threatening
Behaviour, 40, 74-80.
Joiner, T. (2005). Why people die by suicide. Harvard University
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Lakeman, R. & Fitzgerald, M. (2008). How people live with or
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Advanced Nursing, 64(2), 114-126.
36
Appendices
Appendix 1: Suicide Attempt Research Screening Tool
Question
Answer
Exclusion/Inclusion
Yes
Included in study
No
Yes
Included in study
No
Included in study
Yes
Included in study
No
Yes
Included in study
No
Yes
Included in study
No
Included in study
General Screening
Over the age of 18?
Yes
No Finish screening questions
Included in study
Yes
Included in study
Yes
No
Yes
No
Can you access the means for carrying out this plan?
37
Can you tell me what led you to wanting to end your life?
f Did anyone know about your plans?
f Did you reach out for help from a friend, family member
or colleague?
38
39
www.sane.org
www.saneforums.org