Suicide and Western culture

Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Saxby Pridmore, Milford McArthur

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine the cultural roots and transmission of Western suicide and suicidal behaviour. We explored a period of antiquity (mythical Greece-61 CE) and selected accounts of 10 prominent suicides. The precipitating circumstances were tabulated and an assessment made of the most likely attendant emotions. The same process was followed for a recent period (1994-2008), from which 10 suicides were identified. The precipitating circumstances and the attendant emotions were compared. These circumstances and emotions were then compared to statements commonly encountered in clinical practice from people demonstrating suicidal behaviour. Finally, we looked for evidence that these stories (and the response models) had entered Western culture. Precipitating circumstances, loss of a loved one, actual or imminent execution or imprisonment, other losses and public disgrace, and the negative emotions of shame, guilt, fear, anger, grief and sorrow were common to both historical periods. These circumstances and emotions are similar to those commonly expressed by people who have demonstrated suicidal behaviour. There was a clear record (literature, visual arts) of these stories forming part of our cultural heritage. Model...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Jun 22, 2010·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·Mehmet EskinVesile Altinyazar
Feb 9, 2010·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Saxby Pridmore, Milford McArthur
Sep 25, 2010·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Saxby Pridmore, Jamshid Ahmadi
Feb 10, 2011·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Saxby Pridmore, Zainab Abd Majeed
Sep 2, 2011·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Saxby PridmoreZainab Abd Majeed
Jun 21, 2011·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Olav Nielssen, Mathew Large
Nov 12, 2013·Psychiatry Research·Kyoung Ho ChoiKyoung-Uk Lee
Aug 31, 2016·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica·Y Alamri
Dec 17, 2009·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Saxby Pridmore, Mohammed Yaacob Jamil
Feb 24, 2012·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Andrew GerardMatthew Large
Jul 10, 2012·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Garry Walter, Saxby Pridmore

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