Language, culture, gender, and intersectionalities in suicide theory, research, and prevention: Challenges and changes

Abstract

Over the decades suicidology has experienced many challenges and changes.Language, culture, gender, and intersectionalities of experience have been domains of challenge and change. In this article I document my contributions to suicidology's transformation in these domains. These contributions include challenging stigmatizing and biased suicide-language (e.g., expressions like "successful" and "failed" suicide); questioning gender myths of suicidal behaviors (e.g., the myth that women and men are opposites in terms of suicide motives); the gender-paradox-of-suicide idea; and suicide-scripts theory and research. I then describe the evolution of suicide-scripts theory. Suicide-scripts theory builds on evidence that in each culture there are unique situations when suicidal behavior is expected from specific people, using specific methods, and with specific social consequences. The theory posits that these scripts contribute to variations in suicidality across cultures, and within cultures, across sociodemographic groups, intersectionally. Studies using a diversity of methodologies and focusing on a diversity of sociodemographic groups and cultures point to the role of suicide scripts in suicidality. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications, for suicide prevention, of suicide-scripts theory and evidence.

Two sides of the same coin? The association between suicide stigma and suicide normalisation

“…hesitance to disclose personal stigmatising attitudes) as well as less personal stigmatising attitudes among those with own experiences of suicidality. Additionally, in line with suicide scripts theory (Canetto, 2021 ) and previous studies (Stack and Kposowa, 2008 ; Eskin et al ., 2016 ; Phillips and Luth, 2020 ), suicide normalisation was associated with an increased probability to experience current suicidality. Suicide normalisation may therefore reduce the barrier to consider suicide as an option in difficult life situations and should therefore be considered when developing strategies for suicide prevention.…”

“…suicide normalisation) might increase suicide risk. According to suicide-scripts theory (Canetto, 2021 ), suicidal behaviour is most likely when it is socially accepted or even expected for certain persons in certain situations, what at least partially explains elevated suicide rates in certain regions (Pepper, 2017 ) or among certain social groups such as the elderly (Winterrowd et al ., 2017 ), youth (Kleiman, 2015 ) and sexual minorities (Canetto et al ., 2020 ). In line with that, several studies observed increased national suicide rates in countries with more liberal attitudes towards suicide (Stack and Kposowa, 2008 ; Eskin et al ., 2016 ).…”

Job loss, financial strain, and housing problems as suicide precipitants: Associations with other life stressors

“…About one out of five male decedents and one out of six female decedents age 45–64 had JFH. This sex difference in JFH-precipitated suicides may reflect cultural expectations related to gender ( Canetto, 2021 ; Canetto & Sakinofsky, 1998 ). Men, especially middle-aged men with family, have been expected to be the primary breadwinner, which may also explain the higher proportion of married individuals among male than female decedents with JFH.…”

Perspektiv på utsatthet och problem under åldrandet

“…När det gäller livets sista tid förekommer till exempel olika kulturella förståelser av vad som är "normala sätt att dö" (Ågren 2020). Inom suicidforskningen består kulturellt betingade skript dels av strukturerade narrativ om suicidakten (vem som begår suicid, hur och varför), dels av betydelsen som ges suiciden och hur de begripliggörs (Canetto 2021).…”