The Fizzling Effect: A Phenomenological Study on Suicidality Among Filipino Lesbian Women and Gay Men

摘要

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among the 15- to 29-year-old age group (WHO in: Preventing suicide: a global imperative, executive summary, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2014. Retrieved from www.who.int/mental_health/suicideprevention/ exe_summary_english.pdf). Current research supports the observation that suicidality is a critical concern among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations, who may be at greater risk than their heterosexual peers. Phenomenological methods were used to study the dynamics of lesbian women and gay men suicidality in the Philippines. A selection of five self-identified gay men and four self-identified lesbian women met the inclusion criteria of the study and, individually, went through an indepth interview, consisting of two parts, namely the robotfoto and the semi-structured interview. Analyses went through reduction, description, and finding the essence. Three distinct but interrelated themes surfaced: effervescing dilemma, pressurizing turmoil, and fizzling explosion. These themes suggest that Filipino lesbian women and gay men may suffer from internalized stigma and heaving emotional turmoil, which contribute to suicidal ideation and self-injurious behaviors. Difficult life events may trigger an explosion of pent-up negative emotions, culminating in attempted suicide.