Gender in the Suicidal Experience: A Qualitative Study among Adolescents

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Adolescent Health
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Teenage boys exhibit higher suicide mortality rates than girls, despite reporting fewer attempts and seeking less professional care.
• Existing research indicates a need to understand the nuanced, gender-specific subjective experiences of adolescent suicidal behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the subjective experiences of suicidal behavior among adolescents.
• To identify commonalities and gender-specific differences in the lived experiences of adolescent suicidal behavior.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyze semi-structured interviews.
• Included 22 adolescents actively receiving care for suicidal behavior.

Main Results:

• Three core themes emerged: suffering, connection to others, and courage.
• Adolescents reported feelings of misunderstanding and isolation.
• Gender differences were noted: boys perceived relationship difficulties as rejection, while girls feared abandonment and felt responsible; courage was defined differently, with boys sometimes linking it to risk-taking and girls to help-seeking.

Conclusions:

• Prevention programs should address adolescents' perceptions and representations of care, leveraging their experiences as expertise.
• Challenging harmful gender norms related to help-seeking is crucial for encouraging earlier treatment.
• Reframing care within notions of shared vulnerability and interdependence can reduce stigma and promote help-seeking behaviors.