Cultural Aspects of Suicide in a Cajun Parish: The Convergence of “Folk Explanations” and Suicidological Theory

Folk explanations of suicide were elicited by interviewing 6 suicide survivors. Folk explanations emphasized the lack of family support, work related problems & modeling. Survivors exhibited a wish to confirm that the cause of the suicide lay outside of the family (i.e. choosing to believe the deceased had been “on drugs”). The study of folk explanations may indicate which deaths are reported as suicides, & how survivors adjust to death. (RM)