An Analysis of Young Clients' Communications About Their Suicidality on a Text Message Helpline: “I'm Scared of What I Might Do to Myself”

BackgroundYouth suicide is a major international concern and prevention is a priority. In most cases suicidal behavior would be preceded by a period of suicidal ideation. Although feeling suicidal is recognized as a risk factor for suicide, there is little research which captures young people's...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jeanne Van Wyk, Kerry Gibson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.925830/full
_version_ 1818531814967345152
author Jeanne Van Wyk
Kerry Gibson
author_facet Jeanne Van Wyk
Kerry Gibson
author_sort Jeanne Van Wyk
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundYouth suicide is a major international concern and prevention is a priority. In most cases suicidal behavior would be preceded by a period of suicidal ideation. Although feeling suicidal is recognized as a risk factor for suicide, there is little research which captures young people's own experience of suicidality in a moment of crisis.AimsThis study aimed to explore young people's own accounts of their suicidality in the moment in which they experienced it.MethodThis qualitative study examined clients' experience of suicidality as communicated during a text message helpline counseling interaction. The data consisted of 125 text transcripts of an interaction during which a client was experiencing suicidality. These were obtained from a New Zealand based youth helpline service. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe analysis showed that clients' experienced suicidality as a normal part of their life; that it was understood as a form of coping and that it was seen as a legitimate way to communicate distress. Clients described rapid fluctuations in the intensity of their suicidality and a feeling of being out of control. Despite this, they also communicated ambivalence about acting on their suicidality, and a recognition of the need to get help.ConclusionsThis study offered unique insights into young people's experience of suicidality and opens up opportunities for prevention. It underlines the importance of identifying chronic suicidality early and providing intervention and support prior to a suicidal crisis. The findings point to the potential that text counseling services might have in providing support to young people who are experiencing suicidality in the moment that they need this.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T17:37:22Z
format Article
id doaj.art-3e4815b3c4f443ed958b8dfeb0ad6cbe
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1664-0640
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T17:37:22Z
publishDate 2022-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Psychiatry
spelling doaj.art-3e4815b3c4f443ed958b8dfeb0ad6cbe2022-12-22T00:56:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402022-07-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.925830925830An Analysis of Young Clients' Communications About Their Suicidality on a Text Message Helpline: “I'm Scared of What I Might Do to Myself”Jeanne Van WykKerry GibsonBackgroundYouth suicide is a major international concern and prevention is a priority. In most cases suicidal behavior would be preceded by a period of suicidal ideation. Although feeling suicidal is recognized as a risk factor for suicide, there is little research which captures young people's own experience of suicidality in a moment of crisis.AimsThis study aimed to explore young people's own accounts of their suicidality in the moment in which they experienced it.MethodThis qualitative study examined clients' experience of suicidality as communicated during a text message helpline counseling interaction. The data consisted of 125 text transcripts of an interaction during which a client was experiencing suicidality. These were obtained from a New Zealand based youth helpline service. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe analysis showed that clients' experienced suicidality as a normal part of their life; that it was understood as a form of coping and that it was seen as a legitimate way to communicate distress. Clients described rapid fluctuations in the intensity of their suicidality and a feeling of being out of control. Despite this, they also communicated ambivalence about acting on their suicidality, and a recognition of the need to get help.ConclusionsThis study offered unique insights into young people's experience of suicidality and opens up opportunities for prevention. It underlines the importance of identifying chronic suicidality early and providing intervention and support prior to a suicidal crisis. The findings point to the potential that text counseling services might have in providing support to young people who are experiencing suicidality in the moment that they need this.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.925830/fullyouth suicidecrisis helplineyouth mental healthsuicide preventiontext counseling
spellingShingle Jeanne Van Wyk
Kerry Gibson
An Analysis of Young Clients' Communications About Their Suicidality on a Text Message Helpline: “I'm Scared of What I Might Do to Myself”
Frontiers in Psychiatry
youth suicide
crisis helpline
youth mental health
suicide prevention
text counseling
title An Analysis of Young Clients' Communications About Their Suicidality on a Text Message Helpline: “I'm Scared of What I Might Do to Myself”
title_full An Analysis of Young Clients' Communications About Their Suicidality on a Text Message Helpline: “I'm Scared of What I Might Do to Myself”
title_fullStr An Analysis of Young Clients' Communications About Their Suicidality on a Text Message Helpline: “I'm Scared of What I Might Do to Myself”
title_full_unstemmed An Analysis of Young Clients' Communications About Their Suicidality on a Text Message Helpline: “I'm Scared of What I Might Do to Myself”
title_short An Analysis of Young Clients' Communications About Their Suicidality on a Text Message Helpline: “I'm Scared of What I Might Do to Myself”
title_sort analysis of young clients communications about their suicidality on a text message helpline i m scared of what i might do to myself
topic youth suicide
crisis helpline
youth mental health
suicide prevention
text counseling
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.925830/full
work_keys_str_mv AT jeannevanwyk ananalysisofyoungclientscommunicationsabouttheirsuicidalityonatextmessagehelplineimscaredofwhatimightdotomyself
AT kerrygibson ananalysisofyoungclientscommunicationsabouttheirsuicidalityonatextmessagehelplineimscaredofwhatimightdotomyself
AT jeannevanwyk analysisofyoungclientscommunicationsabouttheirsuicidalityonatextmessagehelplineimscaredofwhatimightdotomyself
AT kerrygibson analysisofyoungclientscommunicationsabouttheirsuicidalityonatextmessagehelplineimscaredofwhatimightdotomyself