Affective mobilization expressed in chilean suicide notes. Analysis from grounded theory

Abstract

Suicide is a violent conduct causing one-self's death, and as such is one of the most complex phenomena of human behaviour. Suicide-note analyses have shown efficacy to comprehensively understand suicidal behaviour, but have been unfrequently conducted in Latin-America. The present study explored affective mobilization in the moments prior to the suicidal acts through an analysis of 203 of suicide notes from completed suicides in Chile (2010 - 2012). Interpretation was conducted according to Grounded Theory with the methods of constant comparison and theoretical saturation. The findings showed mainly positive affection, negative affection, depressive affection, and despair. It was concluded that interpersonal problems and emerging affections constituted crucial elements to understand suicidal behaviour.