The Near-Death Experience and Suicidal Ideation.

A near-death experience (NDE) is an altered state of consciousness that can occur during life-threatening incidents, including nonfatal suicide attempts. For some suicide attempters, believing their NDE reflects objective spiritual reality may either increase or decrease suicidal ideation, sometimes leading to further attempts. The paper also explores how NDEs can trigger suicidal ideation in people who had not previously attempted suicide. It provides examples and offers theoretical insights and therapeutic considerations based on this discussion.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The near-death experience (NDE) most generally refers to a state of altered consciousness with various features that can occur during real or presumed near-death circumstances and/or life-threatening incidents. Some NDEs are associated with a nonfatal suicide attempt. This paper discusses how a belief by suicide attempters that their NDEs are a true portrayal of objective spiritual reality can at least in some cases be positively associated with a persistence or increase of suicidal ideation and on occasion lead to further suicide attempts, while also exploring why at other times such a belief may reduce the risk of suicide. The formulation of suicidal ideation associated with NDEs among some of those who did not initially try to kill themselves is also explored. Various examples related to NDEs and suicidal ideation are provided and discussed. Furthermore, this paper also offers some theoretical insights related to this matter and points out some specific therapeutic concerns based on this discussion.