“Nobody Hears a Silent Cry for Help”: Suicide Attempt Survivors’ Experiences of Disclosing During and After a Crisis

Abstract

Suicide remains an important public health issue across the globe. Until recently the medically dominated field of suicide prevention has neglected first-hand accounts of suicidal thoughts and behaviors from those who have survived prior suicide attempts. This qualitative research provides insight into the experience of suicide attempt, highlighting difficulties with disclosure of suicidal thinking prior to, and after, suicide attempts. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 31 adult suicide attempt survivors. The focus of the interviews was to explore their experience of suicide attempt and recovery. This paper reports on the complexity involved in disclosing suicidal thoughts or behavior prior to, at the time, or post attempt; the role that help seeking has when someone is acutely suicidal; and the challenges people have in finding their voice at these critical junctures. These factors are both inter- and intra-personal, and are influenced by stigma and lack of understanding of the suicidal state.

Keywords:

•  suicide attempt
• suicide attempt survivor
• stigma
• suicide disclosure

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

MM, KM, and SC conceptualized the study; SC performed the interviews; MM, KM, SC, and SG undertook the analysis; all authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript and approved the final draft.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

FUNDING

No funding was received for this work.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Myfanwy Maple

Myfanwy Maple, School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.

Laura M. Frey

Laura M. Frey, Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.

Kathy McKay

Kathy McKay, Department of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Sarah Coker

Sarah Coker, SANE Australia, Melbourne, Australia.

Samara Grey

Samara Grey, SANE Australia, Melbourne, Australia.