On the verge of suicide from a suffering perspective.

AimTo uncover the substance of how suffering is associated with human beings with thoughts or plans about ending their lives by suicide and to bring out more diversity, complexity, and contextuality of this phenomenon. Understanding as an important virtue underscores the safeguarding of the patient's dignity as a holy element.BackgroundThe study is grounded in a caring science perspective where suffering is seen as embodied in the human being. Methodology and design: This integrative literature review presents a combination of data from both theoretical and empirical literature with a reading of selected articles. Ethical ontological questions are prerequisites for highlighting caring understanding. Through the reading of a truthful written text of experienced suffering with love and compassion, it is possible to confirm and serve life and health.Data sourcesEmbase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, and Nursing Ethics. Ethical consideration: The study was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integration.ResultsThree distinct themes were identified as a basis for considerations related to suffering: (a) Suffering in time and space, (b) Bearable and unbearable suffering, and (c) Language as essential for being.ConclusionThe language of suffering in caring science is made visible. Caring understanding has an inherent ought to, embraced by ethos towards alleviation. Life-threatening suffering is revealed. Thinking of suicide as a way out can make it possible to endure the suffering. Lack of caring understanding was a threat to some of the patients' dignity. Lack of evidence exists as to whether telling the suffering story is a movement in the direction of alleviation and this calls for further research to examine if caring and caring science can embrace this suffering.