PERSIST

Research project

Persistent Suicidality
While most death wishes are temporary in nature and diminish upon addressing the underlying issues, there is also a substantial group of people in whom they persist. Although a precise definition of persistent death wishes does not exist, literature often denotes them as persistent if present for more than a year. Research indicates that 28-43% of individuals who contemplate suicide at one point in time still do so years later. The factors contributing to the persistence of these death wishes and their development over time remain understudied. Besides, little is known about the needs of this specific group. Conventional psychiatric interventions and suicide prevention strategies appear inadequate in addressing the requirements of individuals with persistent death wishes. Critiques commonly cite insufficient consideration of death as a serious option by caregivers. To move forward in this discussion, finding a balance between safety and autonomy, more knowledge is needed about persistent death wishes.

Objectives

The PERSIST research project aims to better understand persistent death wishes so appropriate care can be provided. To achieve this goal, we will answer the following questions:

1. a) What is a persistent death wish?
2. b) Which factors contribute to the onset and course of a persistent death wish?
3. c) What are the needs of people with a persistent death wish?
4. d) Can people with persistent death wishes be distinguished into relevant subtypes on the basis of which appropriate care can be provided?

Current studies (work in progress):

• Systematic scoping review of persistent suicidal ideations
• Cross-sectional qualitative study exploring the understanding of persistent suicidality from both experts by experience and occupational experts
• Longitudinal phenomenology-inspired qualitative study into the lived experiences of people with persistent suicidality