'Don't push me aside, Doctor': Suicide attempters talk about their support needs, service delivery and suicide prevention in South Africa. Issue 2 (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bantjes, Jason
• Is Part Of: Health psychology open. Volume 4:Issue 2(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: attempted suicide -- critical health psychology -- health care systems -- South Africa -- suicide -- suicide prevention; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/2055102917726202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-1029

Abstract

Few studies have explored the expressed support needs of suicide attempters in developing countries. Data, collected via in-depth interviews with suicide attempters admitted to a South African hospital, were analysed using thematic content analysis. Participants explicitly asked for integrated psycho-social services at a primary health care level and say they require assistance with alleviating psychiatric symptoms, establishing connectedness, interpersonal conflict and solving socio-economic problems. Findings highlight the importance for suicide prevention of (1) considering interpersonal and contextual socio-economic factors in addition to the psychiatric causes of suicidal behaviour; and (2) multilevel strategies, intersectoral collaboration and integrated person-centred primary health care.