Citation

Fincham B, Scourfield J, Langer S. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 52.

Affiliation

Cardiff University, Cardiff School of Social Sciences, 59/60 Park Place, CF10 3AT Cardiff, United Kingdom. finchamb@cardiff.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963931

Abstract

The psychological autopsy approach is an established method for investigating individual suicides. Whilst this method has proved effective in identifying possible psychopathological explanations for suicides, these studies have tended not to focus on social factors in suicidal events. This paper presents qualitative data gathered in ongoing research on suicide in the UK. The study has consisted of documentary evidence from coroners' case files (suicide verdicts) and interviews with family members, friends and professionals. In this paper we critically reflect on the usefulness of such data in constructing a method of distinctly sociological autopsy. The successful application of a sociological autopsy approach is also addressed with regard to ongoing discussions of the study with professionals and bereaved relatives. The qualitative sociological emphasis on uncovering the social context of individual suicides offers an important and distinct way of viewing the causes of suicide.

Language: en