Suicídio de adolescente na percepção dos sobreviventes : um estudo de caso.

Abstract

The suicide is a phenomenon of complex and multifaceted determination that has always been present in the history of humanity. It is considered by the World Health Organization a global public health problem, that can be prevented in most cases. It represents the second cause of death among young people in the world, with raising rates in the last years. Besides a personal tragedy, the suicide is a familiar tragedy, that can cause deep suffering from various sources, with indeterminate duration and unpredictable outcome. Therefore, this study aimed the comprehension of suicide in adolescence through the perceptions of the survivors about the possible risk factors, as well as, to unveil the characteristics of their mourning. For this purpose, the case study design was used with descriptive qualitative exploratory approach and the data were analyzed by thematic and presented in narrative format. Three survivors of the suicide of a teenager (mother, friend and boyfriend) participated in the study. In the data analysis, the following subjects emerged: the teenager, the suicide and the survivor’s mourning. The narratives told the story of a cheerful, authentic, explosive and supportive teenager, with no apparent psychiatric illness. In the last week of life, she was introspective, tearful and on a winter morning, before leaving to school, she produced a fatal injury in herself, leaving everyone perplexed. The experience of the mourning by the survivors, even after four years, was narrated with much suffering and permeated by pain, guilt, anger and shame, with alternation between moments of hope and longing. In this context, the professionals and health services must know this reality, experienced by many adolescents and contemporary families, aiming the prevention of premature deaths and the adequate support for the survivors.