"When you are alone you have a narrow mind, but when you are with others you think broader into the other aspects". A qualitative study on the role of sense of belonging and mattering in attempted suicide in Uganda.

Journal: International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being

Volume: 19

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2024

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Mental Health, Norwegian University of Science of Technology, Trondheim, Norway. Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Kampala, Uganda. Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda. Department of Mental Health Work, NTNU Samfunnsforskning AS (NTNU Social Research), Trondheim, Norway.

Abstract summary 

Suicide is globally a severe problem with an estimated 700.000 deaths annually. Six of the 10 countries with the highest suicide rates worldwide are in Africa, though, reliable statistics are scarce.In this qualitative interview study in Uganda, we analysed the stories of 16 people admitted to hospital following a serious suicide attempt. We focussed especially on each person's decision process towards their resolution to attempt suicide.Despite the huge heterogeneity of the narratives, we could identify problems regarding the sense of belonging and mattering in all the stories. Both the sense of belonging and mattering have been related to suicidal behaviour in earlier theories, but they were never studied together or under consideration of the influence of this specific cultural context. We found that the participants' sense of belonging and mattering to a large degree was influenced by their traditional communalistic context with a worldview where the line between the natural and spiritual world was blurry.This kind of knowledge could be a valuable source for health professionals in their treatment of suicidal persons; it could direct their approach to the core of each person's relational problems and meaning-making, which is crucial for their decisions with regard to suicide.

Authors & Co-authors:  Knizek Birthe Loa BL Mugisha James J Kinyanda Eugene E Hagen Julia J Hjelmeland Heidi H

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  5
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1080/17482631.2024.2424012
SSN : 1748-2631
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
Suicide attempt;Uganda;belonging;culture;mattering
Study Design
Study Approach
Qualitative
Country of Study
Uganda
Publication Country
United States