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Beliefs about suicide: The impact on suicide ideation and behaviour
[Thesis]. Manchester, UK: The University of Manchester; 2017.
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Abstract
Suicide is a significant public health problem that is now prioritised in many healthcare agendas in attempts to prevent future suicide. It has a devastating impact not only for the tragic loss of life but also for the bereaved family and friends and professional services. A considerable amount of research has been devoted to understanding the risk and resilience factors for suicide and the mechanisms that lead to both suicide ideation and suicide behaviour. Although significantly advancing understanding of suicide less is known about the cognitive processes involved in the initiation and maintenance of suicide ideation, a known risk factor for suicide behaviour. In the first paper, models and understanding of suicide are considered alongside current understanding of the attitudes held towards suicide. A systematic literature review was conducted examining the relationship between attitudes held towards suicide and suicide ideation and behaviour with 44 articles identified. A clear association was found between accepting attitudes towards suicide and suicide behaviour. There was some inconsistency in the literature with the relationship between attitudes towards suicide and suicide ideation. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed with future research suggested. Incorporating an individual's attitude toward suicide into a risk assessment and formulation will allow for a more detailed understanding of an individual's presenting risk of suicide. The second, empirical paper, provides the first evidence of a relationship between metacognitive beliefs about suicide ideation and suicide ideation. Experience sampling methodology was utilised to examine this relationship. Both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs about suicide ideation are held in those currently experiencing suicide ideation. There is a significant relationship between these beliefs and suicide ideation even when known correlates of suicide are controlled for (defeat, entrapment, negative affect and hopelessness). Stronger metacognitive beliefs about suicide ideation are associated with increased suicide ideation. The results are considered in terms of the clinical and theoretical implications with suggestion that future research continues to develop an understanding of the role of metacognition in both suicide ideation and behaviour. The final paper provides a critical reflection on the research process overall. A more detailed account of the methodological approach of both papers is provided with consideration of the paper’s strengths and weaknesses. Additional theoretical considerations are made with further suggestions for future research with the hope of continuing development of a metacognitive understanding of suicide.