The confrontation of those who remain: Qualitative reports of relatives about 3 cases of suicide in a small city in the Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Introduction

Suicide is serious public health problem. In Brazil, suicides are more frequent in countryside and small cities.

Objective

To understand how informants have confronted emotionally the suicide at home by listening to viewpoints reported by such relatives of the deceased.

Method

Qualitative, exploratory design, conducted in a basic health unit area, in “Pau dos Ferros”, a city with 30,000 inhabitants, State of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil. Sample constructed by technique of “snowball”, in which the health team presented us the first family, whose member informed about the following; and this, the third one. Data collection through semi-directed interviews with open-ended questions in depth, and submitted to thematic analysis.

Results

Individuals from relatives who had family bond with the suicidal people were interviewed. From analysis of transcribed interviews, three categories emerged:

• – “she has never demonstrated” – possible non-perception of potential suicidal behavior by the family;

• – “I got crazy” – feelings of relatives facing a hard scene of suicide and determined cultural questionings;

• – “we have no professional support in following days” – absence of psychosocial support and healthcare problems.

Conclusions

Possible mood oscillations from suicidal persons were masked by opposite emotional reactions of themselves, and/or oscillations were denied by the observers. Suicide scene seems to have provoked feelings of helplessness and guilt for relatives in not being able to avoid the dramatic act. Feelings of discomfort occurred facing curiosity from many persons who would raise uncomfortable assumptions about suicidal motivations. Family members complained about lack of more effective psychosocial care.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.