Mapping the Emergence of Critical Suicide Studies: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Critical suicide studies, as a formal and recognizable entity, is a relatively new site of scholarship, practice, and activism. It has emerged in the early part of the 21st century in response to some perceived limitations of dominant formulations of suicide and mainstream suicide prevention practices. In this article, we present findings from a qualitative research study undertaken to understand how critical suicide studies is unfolding and with what potential effects. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine scholars, practitioners, activists, and/or those with lived experience, recruited from the Critical Suicide Studies Listserv (electronic mailing list). To analyze our data, we used reflexive thematic analysis and drew on a social constructionist orientation, which acknowledges the historically and culturally contingent nature of suicide, suicidology, and practices of suicide prevention. Three overlappping themes were generated based on our analysis. As a mode of critique, critical suicide studies provides an interruption to the status quo. As a conceptual resource, it offers an alternative way of understanding suicide. As an applied practice, it offers possibilities for “doing” suicide prevention differently. Implications for future research, practice, and social change are discussed.