People who have had recurrent suicide attempts (RSA) are known to be at higher risk of
future attempts and eventual death by suicide. They are also identified as having unique
psychosocial needs, however few treatment interventions have been developed for this
particular population. The Skills for Safer Living: A Psychosocial-Psychoeducational
Intervention for People with Recurrent Suicide Attempts (SfSL/PISA) is a
psychotherapeutic group intervention created for and with people with RSA; seeking to
engage with the possibility of living, enhance skills for living more safely and addressing
their needs.
This research project aimed to address these issues by examining whether
participants who have engaged with this intervention transition away from RSA, and
explores their experiences of this transition and of living with RSA. The project comprises
four interlinked studies, two quantitative outcome studies and two qualitative studies, with
different participant samples, all of whom had graduated from SfSL/PISA.
These studies highlight that risk factors and deficit areas for RSA can be attenuated
over time for those who completed the SfSL/PISA intervention; that the process of
transitioning away from RSA comprises three phases wherein the person moves from a
death orientation to a life orientation; and that living with RSA is marked by states that are
ambiguous, fragile, and arduous. The findings suggest that psychotherapeutic intervention
for RSA needs to address the specific needs of this group and to be sensitive to the
particular stage of living with RSA to navigate through this experience