Citation

Roberts K, Miller M, Azrael DR. Arch. Suicide Res. 2019; 23(1): 34-46.

Affiliation

Harvard Injury Control Research Center, School of Public Health , Harvard University , Boston , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2017.1411299

PMID

29281586

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Personal Honor is associated with culturally defined honor-norms, its loss may predicate suicide. This exploratory study aimed to identify honor-related suicides within a public health dataset and to compare them to other suicides.

METHODS: Honor-related suicides (n = 163) were identified from case narratives within the National Violent Death Reporting System dataset. The distribution of factors associated with honor-related suicide were compared with all other suicides (n = 54333).

RESULTS: Honor-related suicides were more likely associated with, leaving a suicide note; discussing suicidal intent; criminal-legal, job and relationship problems; and suffering depression whilst being less likely to seek help for distress. They were not associated with gender or suicide method.

CONCLUSION: Honor suicides were identified and appear to be most associated with public challenges to personal reputation. Implications for suicide prevention are discussed.

Language: en