Abstract:
Although sufficient work on general warning signs of suicide has been conducted
worldwide, the numbers of studies that focus on behavior immediate to suicide are very
limited. Additionally, as culture is known to shape human behavior in numerous ways, is
necessary to understand the pre-suicidal behavior of Bangladeshi cases if any warning sign
based intervention is to be developed for this country. The aim of the present study was to
explore pre-suicidal behavior in order to identify early warning signs of suicide. A
qualitative research design using phenomenological approach was adopted in this study.
Purposive sampling technique was employed to select eight participants using predefined
inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected from para-suicide cases and family
members of cases who have completed or attempted suicide. In-depth interview was used
to collect data which were audio recorded for ensuring accuracy. Data analysis process
involved verbatim transcription of the interviews, open and axial coding. The findings
provided detailed insight and understanding of suicide warning signs along with overall
suicide process. The findings clearly reflect the notion that suicide is preventable. Suicidal
individuals provide pre suicide warning signs at different time frame and on different
modalities such as behavioral, cognitive and emotional. Moreover, it was found that
suicidal individuals often directly express their suicidal thoughts to the family members
and friends. Their expression of suicidal warning signs ranged from proximal to distal in
terms of time frame. Another important findings revealed in this study was that people
around the suicidal individual were able to perceive their suicidal risk. However, instead
of providing help these people ignored the risk based on subjective judgment. The
probable reason behind this ignorance might be the lack of knowledge about warning signs
and stigma around suicide. In either case present study can contribute into this through
enhanced knowledge from detailed understanding gained in this study. Findings of the
present study suggest a well defined set of warning signs in the context of Bangladesh.
These warning signs can be utilized in designing national suicide prevention guidelines for
Bangladeshi population.
