Year: 2001 Source: European Congress on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour, (8th: 2000: Bled, Slovenia), p.255-257 SIEC No: 20041447

The present paper uses Shneidman’s theoretical approach to suicide & mental pain, the present author has conducted a phenomenological study on mental pain that resulted in a Mental Pain Scale with adequate psychometric properties. Based on this study, he defines mental pain as the perception of negative changes in the self & its function, accompanied by negative emotions & negative cognitions. In addition, he focuses on mental pain & suicide from a clinical perspective, with special attention to pain-producing inner patterns (e.g., self-hate). Some general conclusions about therapy are also presented. (3 refs)