In My Mind I Was Alone: Suicidal Adolescents' Perceptions of Attachment Relationships

While interpersonal relationships have been identified as playing a key role in the development of suicidal ideation and behavior, limited research has examined adolescent suicidality within the context of attachment relationships. The intent of the present study was to increase understanding of the role of attachment relationships in adolescents’ experiences of becoming suicidal through an examination of the perceptions of those who have experienced the suicidal state. Fifty Canadian adolescents and young adults who were previously suicidal between the ages of 13 and 19 were interviewed, and a qualitative research design used for analysis. Three core categories were identified: parental insecurity, peer insecurity, and perceptions of self. Results are discussed within the context of attachment theory, providing a framework for therapeutic intervention strategies with suicidal adolescents.