Knowing to care: life stories of adolescent survivors of suicide attempts in a Brazilian metropolis.
Letícia Yazigi Martins, Thiago da Silva Domingos, Amanda Carolina Franciscatto Avezani and 2 others
PMID 41770108WHAT IT FOUND
Twelve adolescent survivors described attempts as impulsive responses to anger, grief, family conflict, bullying, and feeling misunderstood.
Nurses can listen for these themes in care. This is not evidence that listening prevents attempts.
Key findings
01The adolescents described impulsive suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm as part of their experiences.
02Family arguments were present in all the adolescents' experiences, and loss, loneliness, and helplessness were also themes.
03Bullying, school exclusion, and violence were linked in the narratives to low self-esteem, isolation, and feeling like a burden.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 12 adolescents participated, so their stories cannot be generalized to all adolescents who attempt suicide. The study was qualitative and did not test an intervention or measure outcomes. Most interviews were online, and the authors said this limited observation of body language and possibly depth. Many adolescents could not be contacted or refused, which may have shaped who participated. Adolescents who had attempted suicide less than a month before were excluded. The paper does not provide evidence about which care approach prevents suicide attempts.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the reported links between family conflict, bullying, self-harm, and suicide attempts as proof that these factors caused the attempts. The study used 12 adolescents' narratives and did not test any intervention or outcome.