%0 Journal Article
%T The mask of suicide
%J Archives of suicide research
%D 2020
%A Leenaars, Antoon A.
%A Dieserud, Gudrun
%A Wenckstern, Susanne
%V ePub
%N ePub
%P ePub-ePub
%X Although it has been stated that the majority of suicidal people give definite  warnings of their suicidal intention, a percentage of suicidal people may dissemble  (or mask), possibly 20%. The aim of this psychological autopsy (PA) study was to  explore the mask of suicide, examining age and sex of the decedent, and survivors'  relationship to the deceased. A PA study in Norway, with 120 survivors/informants,  was undertaken. Overall, 80% of informants reported manifest and/or latent content  of deception (dissembling); well above the 20% suggested. Three main themes emerged  from the interviews of the 95 survivors that were related to the mask. In the  opinion of the bereaved, reasons for the mask were due to: 1) Inability to  adjust/impairment; 2) Relational problems; and 3) Weakened resilience. Differences  in masking or (self) deception were found in the age of the decedent, but not in  sex, nor in the survivors' closeness of the relationship. Older deceased people were  perceived to exhibit more dissembling, associated to the suicide. Limitations are  noted in this beginning study into the mask of suicide, and it is concluded that  much greater research is needed to unmask the dangerous dissembling, maybe in some,  self-deception.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Informa - Taylor and Francis Group
%@ 1381-1118
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2020.1851832