Phenomenological Psychological Autopsies: a Survivor Driven Model for Understanding Suicide

The purpose of this study was 2-fold. First, the intent was to increase knowledge about why people die by suicide. Second, the author hoped to assess the suitability & advantage of using the qualitative method of phenomenology to conduct psychological autopsies. Data was collected from 5 participants during the summer of 2008. The narratives present a telling picture of the struggles of both the decedents & their survivors. The narratives, when compared to the presented theories, demonstrate the way in which few pople perfectly fit a theoretical mold.