Suicide... Can Therapy Help ?


Article author:

Carmel Crowe

Carmel has worked as a Psychotherapist since 2004, and has worked with a wide range of clients, covering a broad spectrum of presenting issues and is a fully accredited member of the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Article topics:

Suicide

This issue of Suicide has become a tragic one for Irish society, which has seen a fourfold rise In suicide numbers over the last 20 years. In 1980, 216 people in Ireland suicided whereas in 1998 the figure had risen to 514. 25% of all deaths in the age range 15 to 24 were recorded as suicide, and 23% of deaths occurring in the age group 25 to 34 recorded the same cause (The Irish Assoc of Suicidology). As a society we must question and attempt to understand why our young people are choosing suicide as the most viable option to address their problems.

Suicide and Counselling and Psychotherapy

Clearly therefore in the midst of what can only be referred to as an epidemic, the role of the counsellor or psychotherapist is very important in dealing with this very contemporary issue. Identification of suicidal intentions can be difficult to assess. Considering the prevalence of this issue amongst our population, preparedness to recognise, confront, and deal with suicidal thoughts as a tangible issue must be a priority for all and the process of Therapy can provide a safe and supportive setting in which to explore these ideations.

Suicide and Social Change

“Countries that have an increasing suicide rate in young people, are also going through significant social change” (Aware). If the range of social change experienced in Ireland over the last 40 years has a correlating effect on the numbers of our population suiciding, then our society is faced with a very real challenge. Society needs to address the issues raised by the social change, and effect strategies for enabling people to feel empowered rather than disabled in the face of such change. Being able to perceive a viable future is a fundamental right of every person.

Suicide and Gender

One of the most alarming statistics available in relation to youth suicide in Ireland is the gender split in the numbers of those suiciding. Statistics from the Central Statistics Office 1997 detailed that suicide rates for young Irish males 15-24 had risen over 400% in the previous 10 years. This indicates that young men were four times more likely to kill themselves than young women. In 1980 143 men suicided, compared to 73 women, whereas in 1998 the male figure had risen to 433 compared to 81 women (Irish Association of Suicidology). Therefore the gender issue here presents as a very tangible one, showing rises in the numbers occurring mostly amongst the male population, whereas by comparison the female statistics remain relatively consistent.

This clearly poses a very specific question to both society and therapists, as to why men and young men in particular are choosing suicide. Experience suggests that young men particularly are displaying an overriding sense of despair and hopelessness in themselves, the world around them, and any potential for a future. Various researches suggest that those with close emotional relationships, strong religious beliefs and active involvement in an ongoing life situation are unlikely to suicide. However if we look at the mindset of young Irish males there is a distinct lack of either three present in much of their experience.
Hogan (1999) says if men are permanently seeking to conform to societies expectations of their coping abilities, it would be unmanly or inappropriate for them to engage in open discussion about their fears or doubts, which he cites as one of the main reasons for male depression, as emotional isolation.
Women are more likely to seek help for a range of problems ranging from emotional, practical or depression, and are more likely to enlist the help needed to deal with their problems. A huge issue with young male suicide is that many of those who have suicided, had not sought help, for the issues they were clearly grappling with. Any endeavour to deal with this issue therefore must identify the real differences between the genders and seek to engage meaningfully with young males at risk, who are in isolation often geographically, socially and emotionally. We must also consider the coping strategies employed by both males and females, and assess the effect on their ability to endure, and emerge from crises. Whilst talking therapies are openly promoted and often sought by women, they can appear alien, daunting, and unworkable to males who often have no language for the expression of the emotions they experience.

Suicide and the role of Counselling or Psychotherapy

Suicide is an act accomplished, resulting tragically in the end of a life of a person who can no longer be engaged with. But it is people who entertain thoughts of suicide, and one of the potential problems in dealing with this issue, is the tendency to attempt to deal with the issue rather than the person. Psychotherapy can provide an environment where the therapist can endeavour to balance their concerns with the client’s behaviour, with a genuine understanding and acceptance of the client as an individual. It is in such a dynamic that the importance of the basic conditions of Rogerian therapy can be seen. If we accept that lack of hope, despair, isolation, inability to express emotion, depression, grief, loss, alcohol/drug abuse are real issues for young males at risk, then experiencing warmth, acceptance, unconditionality, authenticity, and empathy, may facilitate the client in dealing with their unbearable mental pain. If a client can observe the therapist not being overwhelmed and consumed by his own experience, perhaps they too can endure such feelings.

The Role of The Therapist

The therapist can also assist by not holding or making value judgments around suicide, and also be prepared to “verbalise the possibility of suicide”(Kennedy, Charles 2001; 357), even before the client does. In many cases the client will have lost the ability to see potentiality or the positive and if trust has been established in the therapeutic relationship, the therapist can challenge the client’s expression of hopelessness, and facilitate improvement in relationships.

Within the therapeutic relationship work can be undertaken with those who do present, to enable them to find better ways of coping with the difficulties they face. I would agree that young men are not encouraged socially to express emotion, and often they do not even have a language for such emotion. Therapists need to remain flexible, and innovative in establishing effective ways of connecting with people who doubt the possibility of connection at all.
However, therapy must be more expansive in its attempts to find meaningful ways to engage, with people in crises in a language they can understand. If we can work toward this, we can hope to develop good working therapeutic relationships and facilitate people in developing better choices for their futures.

References
Aware – Suicide In Ireland: “A Global Perspective and A National Strategy”, retrieved from www.aware.ie/suicide/html
Hogan, F (1999) “Stories of Male Suicide and Other Misadventures in Masochism” Eisteach Volume 2 No 10. Dublin
Irish Association of Suicidology from http/www.ias.ie/statistics.asp?ID_statistics=27
Kelleher M. (1996) “ Suicide and the Irish “.Cork, Mercier Press
Kennedy E, Charles S (2001) “ On Becoming a Counsellor” Gill & McMillan Ltd
National Suicide Review Group Newsletter (2000) Vol.1 Issue 2.
Retrieved from http/www.nsrg.ie/newsletter2.shtml
Real T. (1997) “I don’t want to talk about it; overcoming the secret legacy of male depression” Dublin. Gill and McMillan.
Report of the National Task Force on Suicide (1998). Department of Health and Children. Dublin