A Critical Exploration of Social Well-being and Youth Suicidal Acts in the Sociocultural Context of Sri Lanka: The Role of Social Work

Susantha Kumara Rasnayaka Mudiyanselage

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

This thesis explores the social well-being experience of youth who have engaged in suicidal acts in the sociocultural context of Sri Lanka, with a particular emphasis on the post-discharge period, employing grounded theory methodology. The findings are supported by 20 case studies of young men and women who have engaged in suicidal acts, 24 interviews with mental and psychosocial support service providers, and two focus group discussions with complementary service providers. Accordingly, young people's suicidal acts have been undertaken in response to a crisis of forming, sharing, and maintaining meaningful relationships, which I termed a social well-being crisis rather than the popular discourse of mental disorders as referred to in the West. Issues around partner relationships and conflictive relationships in the family are crucial stressors in triggering youth suicidal acts. This crisis becomes further critical in the post-discharge period due to anticipated and actual negative social responses operating in various social setups, including family, neighbourhood, friends, workplace, and community. Stigma, humiliation, gossip, social rejection, and exclusion are critical among negative social responses. These negative social responses profoundly damage the young person's social respectability, honour, and public image, which stand as essential pillars in everyday social life in the local setting. This in turn creates an internal crisis with shame and fear of facing society, anger, disgust, and discontentment resulting in self-isolation and withdrawal from virtual and actual social relationships and engagements as coping or resilience methods. Though family plays an essential aftercare role, family members respond aggressively towards the affected due to the shame and dishonour brought to the family. Among the family's negative responses, accusations and reduced conversation, recalling unpleasant memories, restricting socialisation, and the tendency to withdraw support are highlighted. Young women's social well-being crisis is more critical than that of young men, as their suicidal acts often involve sexual misbehaviour, which decreases their social honour and respectability, increasing the vulnerability of receiving more negative social responses. Thus, a young woman who engages in socially accusable sexual misbehaviour has enormous difficulty in maintaining meaningful relationships with family, neighbours, relatives, and community after a suicidal act due to shame, stigma, and damage caused to the socially expected 'good character' or 'good woman'. The study reveals that friendship has been a solid social capital for the study participants before suicidal acts as well as in the post-discharge period. Before suicidal acts, young persons, notably young men, share their grievances and distress with friends. Especially friends' psychological and welfare support has been vital in the recovery process after suicidal acts. More specifically, the attentive listening and grievance-sharing role of friends, called Friendship-bædima (connection) has been a vital psychological resource for the affected young people. The role of friendship-bædima cannot be expected from the family due to the cultural bond among family members and the hierarchical relationship structure in the local family system. Thus, friends can play a vital role in enhancing the social well-being of the affected young people. This study stresses the importance of the use of social work in developing a community-oriented postvention system to help young people who have experienced suicidal acts and their families. Alternatively, the study proposes The Friendship-bædim Model. Such alternative social engineering models are required in suicide prevention among young people because existing aftercare has primarily focused on physical recovery. In contrast, social recovery is disregarded, which would increase the risk of reoccurrence of suicidal acts.

Keywords

Social well-being, Youth, Suicidal acts, post-discharge period, Sri Lanka, postvention, social work

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 23. 4. 2024

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 27. 6. 2024
• Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Pavel Navrátil, Ph.D.
• Reader: Dr. habil. Márta Gabriella Bognárné Erdős, Ph.D., prof. Florin Lazar, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Doctoral programme / field:
Social Policy and Social Work / Social Policy and Social Work