Suicide imagery subtypes and their relationships with suicide behaviour: a mixed-methods evaluation
Abstract
Objective: Mental imagery about suicide is a commonly experienced risk factor for suicide, but subtypes and their relationships to behaviour remain largely unexplored. This study aims to identify and describe common themes in suicide imagery content, perceived function, and subjective meaning in relation to suicide behaviour. Method: Participants (N=20) provided quantitative and qualitative data about content, perceived function, and subjective meaning across 30 unique instances of suicide imagery via online surveys and semi-structured interviews. Results: Framework Analysis resulted in five key themes: (a) Determination imagery depicting a single action script detailing a chosen suicide method, (b) Solution imagery highlighting wanted impacts of suicide, (c) Mental Exercise or fantasy imagery, (d) Discouraging imagery of unwanted impacts of suicide, and (e) Consideration imagery weighing up different methods. Determination and Solution imagery were commonly associated with suicide behaviour. Imagery prior to attempt was often deliberately constructed, wanted, and prolonged (Median duration = 90 minutes). Conclusions: Findings suggest that imagery themes may vary on dimensions reflecting facilitation and deterrence of behaviour, which may interact to produce ambivalence. In addition to volitional impacts via suicide action script rehearsal, suicide imagery may increase motivation towards suicide. Prior to attempt, suicide imagery may be acceptable, comforting, or even sought after. This study provides a nuanced understanding of suicide imagery subtypes in relation to suicide behaviour and provides a framework to assist clinicians in assessment and formulation.
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BibTeX
@misc{martin2026suicide,
title = {{Suicide imagery subtypes and their relationships with suicide behaviour: a mixed-methods evaluation}},
author = {Ann Martin and Cassandra Chakouch and Demee Rheinberger and Peter McEvoy and Julie Lin Ji and Fiona Shand},
howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.31234/osf.io/xht6u_v1},
url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/xht6u_v1/},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Suicide imagery subtypes and their relationships with suicide behaviour: a mixed-methods evaluation
AU - Ann Martin
AU - Cassandra Chakouch
AU - Demee Rheinberger
AU - Peter McEvoy
AU - Julie Lin Ji
AU - Fiona Shand
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
PB - PsyArXiv
DO - 10.31234/osf.io/xht6u_v1
UR - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/xht6u_v1/
AB - Objective: Mental imagery about suicide is a commonly experienced risk factor for suicide, but subtypes and their relationships to behaviour remain largely unexplored. This study aims to identify and describe common themes in suicide imagery content, perceived function, and subjective meaning in relation to suicide behaviour. Method: Participants (N=20) provided quantitative and qualitative data about content, perceived function, and subjective meaning across 30 unique instances of suicide imagery via online surveys and semi-structured interviews. Results: Framework Analysis resulted in five key themes: (a) Determination imagery depicting a single action script detailing a chosen suicide method, (b) Solution imagery highlighting wanted impacts of suicide, (c) Mental Exercise or fantasy imagery, (d) Discouraging imagery of unwanted impacts of suicide, and (e) Consideration imagery weighing up different methods. Determination and Solution imagery were commonly associated with suicide behaviour. Imagery prior to attempt was often deliberately constructed, wanted, and prolonged (Median duration = 90 minutes). Conclusions: Findings suggest that imagery themes may vary on dimensions reflecting facilitation and deterrence of behaviour, which may interact to produce ambivalence. In addition to volitional impacts via suicide action script rehearsal, suicide imagery may increase motivation towards suicide. Prior to attempt, suicide imagery may be acceptable, comforting, or even sought after. This study provides a nuanced understanding of suicide imagery subtypes in relation to suicide behaviour and provides a framework to assist clinicians in assessment and formulation.
ER -