Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

2643

Date

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Sociology

Committee Chair

Seth Abrutyn

Committee Member

Anna Mueller

Committee Member

Carol Rambo

Abstract

Durkheim's work on how integration and regulation shape suicide rates still guides research on suicide, yet one of Durkheim's enduring weaknesses was not exploring the essence of suicide at the interactional level. Moder suicidologists have noted a dearth of qualitative research on suicide, and The Way Forward (2014) called for more research that includes voices of those who have lived through being suicidal. To this end, I conducted 20 in-depth interviews with adults who were formerly suicidal. I aimed to understand how formerly suicidal individuals account for their experiences contemplating or attempting suicide and their relations with family members around their suicidal period(s). I use Goffman's Stigma to frame how my respondents made sense of themselves and their family's conduct after suicidality. My findings suggest that the stigma, silence, and misunderstandings around suicidality are perceived as some of the most formidable barriers that preclude a suicidal individual from receiving help.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Download

Share

COinS