Causes of Suicide among School Students: A Qualitative Analysis of Suicide Survivors’ Experiences

Author(s) : Sher Shah 1, Imran Ahmad Sajid 2, Uzma Ashiq 3

Abstract:

Abstract

Suicide is an alarming point that brings a lot of negative changes, not only in individual behavior but also damages society. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of suicide survival regarding suicide attempts. The theoretical framework of the current study was based on the Anomic Theory of suicide stated by Emile Durkheim. The qualitative research methodology was adopted to investigate the research questions. The sample was selected through the purposive sampling technique. The sample consisted of 15 suicide survivors from Malakand Division KP , their respective one teacher, one fellow from peer group, and one family member of suicide survivor. Data was collected through in-depth interviews. The obtained data were analyzed through the thematic analysis. The results of the study indicate that the majority of the suicide survivors belong to middle-class families. There are multiple indicators of suicide among these suicide victims. Major causes of suicide were low self-esteem, a lack of knowledge, a lack of self-confidence, a lack of patience, failure in an exam, and a mental health problem. The findings also indicate that one problem was common among all suicide survivors, and that was parental pressure due to low academic marks. They had no courage to face their families, so they attempted suicide. To address this shocking issue is to provide coordinated and multi-sector (primary, secondary, and tertiary) preventative activities aimed at reducing these risk factors. Population-based approaches (such as mental health promotion, education, awareness through campaigns on mental resilience, careful media coverage, and parental education and high-risk subgroup-specific approaches (such as specialized school-based programs).

Keywords: Suicide survivor, Causes of suicide, Prevention/ Remedies of suicide, Parents’ Expectation.