Warning signs of suicide among young men

Abstract

When young men unexpectedly take their own lives, those close to the deceased will ask themselves whether there were any signs that might have indicated suicide in the near term. Ten young men, aged 18–30, were selected from a psychological autopsy study of suicides among individuals with no prior psychiatric treatment and no previous suicide attempts. In-depth interviews with mothers, fathers, friends, siblings and ex-partners for each suicide, as well as six suicide notes, were analysed. Guided by interpretative phenomenological analysis, we explored possible warning signs of suicide. According to these informants, the young men did not disclose any direct plans of suicide or request for help prior to their death. Rather four indirect signs, related to the psychological condition of the young men in the period prior to ending their life, emerged: (1) repeatedly pointing to the irreversibility of a mistaken decision, (2) the desperation they felt in this respect, (3) using their own death as a threat and (4) referring to death as a place to go. Talk or actions indicating suicidality, as well as worrisome indirect appeals for emotional support, should be investigated directly with the person, as appropriate responses to these signs may have the potential to save lives.

Keywords::

• warning signs
• young men
• suicide
• qualitative psychological autopsy study

Acknowledgements

This work forms part of the doctoral thesis of the first author to be submitted to the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo. The project is supported by grants awarded by the Research Council of Norway. We also want to thank the informants who participated in the study, as well as Melanie Straiton for her valuable assistance in preparation of this paper.