A Study on Overcoming of the Suicidal Idea

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how people overcome the idea of suicide. We selected 39 study participants by theoretical sampling. The data collected by interviews were analyzed by the deductive content analysis. We constructed the matrix of analysis with 5 dimensions; the producing factors of suicidal idea, the enforcing factors of suicidal idea, the soothing factors of suicidal idea, the reconstruction of the meaning of life, and the efforts to overcome the suicidal idea. The total of 39 themes were identified matching for the five dimensions. Results from analyses indicate that producing and enforcing factors of suicidal idea have stiffened the suicidal idea of study participants. Meanwhile, their suicidal idea has been soothed by developing the responsibility for family and acquaintance, sympathy for oneself, expectation for happiness, and support and encouragement from others, and having aspirations of fulfilling unfulfilled hopes. As a result, those factors described above led study participants to reconstruct the meaning of their lives. Moreover, those who successfully reconstructed the meaning of life were able to overcome the suicidal idea by pursuing religious life, seeking for the counselling and supporting services, participating in the activities for emotional cultivation, and etc. Based upon these findings, we proposed to develop a suicide prevention program focusing on the soothing factors of suicidal idea and cognitive changes.