Maricla Marrone, Fortunato Pititto, Benedetta Pia De Luca, Maria Grazia Violante, Ignazio Grattagliano
What can be the triggers for a suicidal action? Is there a way to “notice” it in time? Is the person who ultimately threatens is more likely to carry it out? In the proposed case report, the authors examine the issue by illustrating the case of a woman who was depressed due to her divorce with her husband. She repeatedly staged a suicide attempt by hanging herself in front of her sons, later denying what she had done. Her suicidal intentions were realised after she saw herself in a video filmed by her daughter, in which she simulated hanging herself. The study addresses the complexity of suicidal behaviour, examining existing theories and challenges in diagnosis and classification. The factors involved in the woman’s self-suppressive act are analysed, leading to the hypothesis that the “seeing herself again” forced her defence mechanisms, increasing her feelings of anger. Indeed, the viewing of the video may have induced a “self Werther effect”. This analysis highlights the urgent need for suicide prevention strategies with specialised and targeted interventions, especially in situations of family conflict. By understanding every aspect of suicidal behaviour, health professionals can implement preventive measures and support systems, while also educating family members to recognise the self-suppressive risk.
