Children and adolescents’ experience with suicidal behavior: a qualitative study

Abstract

Abstract Objective To understand how children and adolescents experience their suicidal behavior. Methods This is a qualitative study, based on social representations, carried out with fifteen Brazilian children and adolescents with suicidal behavior. The data were collected between 2020 and 2021, through open interviews and photo-elicitation to facilitate the expression of the participants. The content was analyzed according to the Collective Subject Discourse technique. Results The speeches were categorized according to the themes: “Feeling disturbed in a hostile scenario” (personal, family and social conflicts), “Going through a crisis permeated by suffering” (suicide ideations, planning and attempts) and “Imagining your future” (getting help for recovery and uncertainty about the future). Conclusion Participants are able to describe triggers that aggravate their mental health and identify signs of suicidal crisis. Public health professionals trained to intervene quickly help to ensure that this population does not risk their lives, improving their hope for the future.