Linking Life- and Suicide-Related Goal Directed Processes: A Qualitative Study
Journal
Journal of Mental Health Counseling
ISSN
1040-2861
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2006-10-01
Author(s)
Abstract
Previous analyses of the narratives of 40 persons hospitalized in a general hospital after suicide attempt found that they described their suicide attempts as goal-directed processes, sometimes planned in advance, sometimes executed spontaneously. They also described short-term actions, mid-term projects, and long-term careers reflecting goal-directed processes related to maintaining and developing their lives. In this qualitative study that reports on a re-analysis of these data, the research participants' narratives were examined for links between life-related and suicide-related goal-directed processes. The analysis followed a distinction between a goal-directed view of suicide processes and a dynamic systems view. The findings indicated that some links were goal-directed and consistent with the reasoning of life-maintaining projects. These "top-down" links between life-related and the suicide-related goal-directed processes reflected the goal-directed view of suicide processes. Other links indicated a substantially limited capacity for goal-directedness, reflecting the "bottom-up" dynamic systems view. Finally, it third group of links reflected a mix of "top-down" and "bottom-up" processes. Implications are offered for mental health counselors working with suicidal clients.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
American Mental Health Counselors Association
Publisher place
Alexandria, Va.
Volume
28
Number
4
Start page
353
End page
371
Pages
19
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
34045