The Role of Self-Esteem in Suicides Among Young Men

Abstract

This study explores self-esteem in suicide among young males with no earlier history of suicide attempt(s) or treatment in mental health services. The data come from an ongoing psychological autopsy study; 10 cases of young men aged 18 to 30, were selected to generate a phenomenologically based understanding of the psychological mechanisms and processes involved in the suicidal process. The analyses are based on in-depth interviews with 61 closely connected individuals, as well as suicide notes. We used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. For these young men, the transition to young adulthood, a period of major life challenges, seemed to be associated with personal defeats. According to their significant others, the deceased seemed to have experienced intolerable discrepancies between their actual performances and their ideal self standards. Four themes emerged from the analysis: (a) striving to find a viable path to life as an adult man; (b) experiencing a sense of failure according to own standards; (c) emotional self-restriction in relationships; and (d) strong feelings of loneliness and rejection of self. Improved understanding of suicides outside the mental illness paradigm may have important implications for preventive strategies.

The Male Experience of Suicide Attempts and Recovery: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

“…This may also be linked to the notion of self-reliance, as many recognised that they did need help but were reluctant or fearful to admit this or did not want to be viewed as a failure [ 10 ]. The men also expressed a feeling of pressure to live up to what they felt was a successful male, and a failure to do so resulted in intense feelings of shame [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. The social and cultural contexts are also of central importance [ 18 ].…”

Experiences of the bereaved in connection with the suicide of young men

“…Intervjuene ble analysert med fleksibel fortolkende fenomenologisk metode (7). I tidligere analyser av materialet rapporterte vi hvordan de etterlatte forstår avdøde og selvmordshendelsen (8)(9)(10). Vi så da at de fleste etterlatte søkte gjennom de siste samtalene de hadde hatt med avdøde etter svar på spørsmålene «Hvorfor så jeg ikke selvmordet komme?» og «Kunne jeg ha gjort mer for å skaffe helsehjelp?».…”

Factores individuales que protegen o favorecen el riesgo de suicidio adolescente: estudio cualitativo con grupos focales

“…La desesperanza que despierta tal carencia empuja a tratar de dotar de sentido a la vida a través de la inmediatez. Esta, sin embargo, es una fútil empresa que fracasa al no encontrar una base de solidez que sirva como contención, ya que cuando un adolescente prioriza en su proyecto de vida un desarrollo individual, puede desplegar signos de desilusión hacia el entorno, manifestando posturas materialistas y hedonistas, padeciendo un estado de confusión sobre su vida 34 . Ante esto, resulta interesante la apreciación de Jiménez et al 13 en cuanto a que las conductas de riesgo suponen un medio para enfrentar los sentimientos de desesperanza, narcisismo y aislamiento social.…”