A qualitative assessment of reasons for living and dying in the context of feeling trapped among adults in the United Kingdom

Matheson, Laura and Rasmussen, Susan and Bowling, Jessamiah and Cramer, Robert J. (2024) A qualitative assessment of reasons for living and dying in the context of feeling trapped among adults in the United Kingdom. Archives of Suicide Research. pp. 1-15. ISSN 1381-1118 (https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2024.2400915)

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Abstract

Objective: Contemporary approaches to suicide assessment and treatment incorporate reasons for living (RFL) and reasons for dying (RFD). This study qualitatively explored individuals’ self-described RFL and RFD in the context of suicidal thinking and behaviours. Method: Within a community United Kingdom (UK) sample, adults (N=331, aged 16+) responded to eight open-ended questions probing their experiences of suicide, defeat, and entrapment. Utilising these data, which were collected from a larger online survey examining risk and protective factors for suicidal behaviours, this study explored RFL and RFD within these narratives. After the research team established an initial code book, RFL and RFD codes were subsequently analysed through inductive and deductive thematic analyses. Results: The present study identified five complimentary RFD-RFL themes: (1) Hopelessness-Hopefulness, (2) Stress of Responsibilities-Duty to Responsibilities, (3) Social Disconnection-Social Connection, (4) Death as Sin-Desire for an Afterlife, and (5) Temporary Escapes as Coping-Entrapment (i.e., a lack of escape). Three subthemes within the RFD theme Entrapment were General/Unspecified, By Feelings, and Within Self. Conclusions: Identified themes reflect the existing quantitative RFL and RFD literature. The identified RFL and RFD themes are discussed with reference to their clinical applications in advancing suicide-specific assessments and interventions. We propose a dimensional framework for RFD and RFL which informs future suicidal behaviours research and practice.

ORCID iDs

Matheson, Laura, Rasmussen, Susan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6408-0028, Bowling, Jessamiah and Cramer, Robert J.;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)