Compression: The Basic Psycho-Social Problem in Managing Health Among Women with Suicide Ideation

Suicide ideation (SI) exceeds combined rates of suicide attempts and deaths yet is vastly overlooked in the literature. Understanding SI is crucial for supporting those who live with these thoughts, particularly women, who experience higher rates of SI than men. Women seeking support are not necessarily looking for help with their SI, rather, their health problems and general wellness. For this reason, we used a Glaserian grounded theory approach to understand the strengths and barriers of how women with SI manage or promote their health. Thirty-two women from four Canadian provinces with SI were interviewed. Data was analyzed using a constant comparison method. Using a Glaserian approach, analysis renders an emergent central variable, and findings are written conceptually instead of descriptively. Findings yielded a theoretical rendering of the basic psycho-social problem (central variable) and process of managing or promoting their health. Here, we report on the psycho-social problem, identified as compression, the sense of being squeezed out of social spaces due to others' rejection of SI. Compression involves feeling pressured to end SI and to prioritize others' needs above their own, imposing demands on women to remain alive and sustain a high level of functioning. Trauma and violence informed approaches are essential to reduce compression, by offering spaces where women are free to discuss SI and how to manage psychological pain with others.