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Understanding Suicide and Self-Harm Behavior across the Lifespan: A Perspective of Risk Factors and Assessment

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Dr. Wenchao Wang

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Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Interests: post-traumatic stress disorder; post-traumatic growth; suicide and life-threatening behavior; mental health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Suicide, the intentional ending of a person’s own life, accounts for approximately 817000 deaths and 2.2% of all years of life lost worldwide annually. Self-harm is a broader concept, which encompasses degrees of intentionality that are hard to separate: from attempted suicide to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Although NSSI is distinguished from suicidal thoughts and behaviors in that individuals who self-injure are characterized as not consciously intending to die, NSSI has been strongly associated with suicide experiences. Understanding the causes of suicide and self-harm, as well as best practices for the assessment, prevention, and treatment of suicidal behaviors and NSSI, has been identified as a critical public health priority and global imperative.

This research topic is dedicated to better understanding the factors underlying suicide and life-threatening behavior across the lifespan. We aim to examine potential mechanisms and modifiable factors which may reduce risk of self-harm and suicide.

We welcome submissions on, but not limited to, the following topics:

Theoretical advances in understanding self-harm and suicide;
Epidemiology of self-harm and suicide;
Risk and protective factors of self-harm and suicide;
Suicide risk assessment;
Prevention strategies;
Treatment suggestions.

We are particularly interested in original data that include longitudinal data sets and can make conclusions on the onset or course of self-harm and suicide, including predictors, moderators, and mediators. Any data that provide knowledge on prevention and treatment of both conditions will be very welcome.

Dr. Wenchao Wang
Guest Editor

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14 pages, 334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“I Was Very Shocked, I Wanted It to Be Over”: A Qualitative Exploration of Suicidal Ideation and Attempts among Women Living with HIV in Indonesia

by Nelsensius Klau Fauk, Gregorius Abanit Asa, Caitlan McLean and Paul Russell Ward

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010009 - 20 Dec 2023

Viewed by 2807

Abstract

HIV diagnosis and poor HIV management have various detrimental impacts on the lives of people living with HIV (PLHIV). As a part of a large qualitative study investigating HIV risk factors and impacts, of which the topic of suicide is not a focus, this paper describes the factors contributing to suicidal ideation and attempts that arose naturally in the stories of women living with HIV (WLHIV; n = 52) in Yogyakarta and Belu districts, Indonesia. The participants were recruited using the snowball sampling technique. Guided by a qualitative data analysis framework, the data were thematically analysed. The findings were grouped into four main themes: (i) the women experienced immense psychological challenges due to the infection, spousal transmission, fear of mother-to-child transmission, and losing a child due to AIDS, which triggered suicidal ideation and attempts; (ii) the lack of awareness of HIV management strategies resulted in them feeling trapped and overwhelmed, and the associated negative thoughts and the anticipation and experience of HIV stigma influenced their thoughts of suicide; (iii) the lack of social support from family and friends during the early stages of HIV diagnosis, compounded with pre-existing financial difficulties, lack of income, unemployment, and feeling overburdened, also triggered the women’s thoughts of suicide; and (iv) family breakdown following HIV diagnosis, concern about future relationships, and fear of being rejected or abandoned by their partner were also influencing factors for suicidal ideation and attempts among the women. The findings indicate the need for a nuanced approach to counselling within HIV care interventions for couples to support the acceptance of each other’s HIV status whilst maintaining psychological wellbeing. Additionally, the findings indicate the importance of HIV education and awareness among community members for the de-stigmatisation of HIV and to increase the acceptance of PLHIV by their families and communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Suicide and Self-Harm Behavior across the Lifespan: A Perspective of Risk Factors and Assessment)

12 pages, 317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Ideal-Type Analysis of People’s Perspectives on Care Plans Received from the Emergency Department following a Self-Harm or Suicidal Crisis

by Sally O’Keeffe, Mimi Suzuki and Rose McCabe

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(19), 6883; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196883 - 4 Oct 2023

Viewed by 2374

Abstract

People presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) in a self-harm/suicidal crisis in England receive a psychosocial assessment and care plan. We aimed to construct a typology of peoples’ perspectives on crisis care plans to explore the range of experiences of care plans. Thirty-two semi-structured interviews with people who presented to EDs following a self-harm/suicidal crisis in England were analysed using an ideal-type analysis. Cases were systematically compared to form clusters of cases with similar experiences of care plans. People’s perspectives on care plans fitted into three types: (1) personalised care plans (n = 13), consisting of advice or referrals perceived as helpful; (2) generic care plans (n = 13), consisting of generic advice that the person already knew about or had already tried; and (3) did not receive a care plan (n = 6) for those who reported not receiving a care plan, or who were only provided with emergency contacts. Care planning in the ED following a suicidal/self-harm crisis was perceived as supportive if it provided realistic and personalised advice, based on what had/had not worked previously. However, many people reported not receiving a helpful care plan, as it was ill-fitted to their needs or was not considered sufficient to keep them safe, which may mean that these patients are at increased risk of repeat self-harm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Suicide and Self-Harm Behavior across the Lifespan: A Perspective of Risk Factors and Assessment)

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Understanding Suicide and Self-Harm Behavior across the Lifespan: A Perspective of Risk Factors and Assessment

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