Multicausality in suicidal processes, 10 credits

Upon completion of the course the student should have achieved an advanced understanding of the interaction of biological, social, and psychological vulnerablitity factors and external adversity in generating severe mental ill-health and suicide. The student should be able to search and analyticallly discuss scientic informtion on mental ill-health and suicide from an individual- as well as a poulation-based perspective. The student should also be able to reflect on the ethical questions and emotional complications that are associated with the field of research.

The focus of the course is on the interaction of individual vulnerability factors with external adversity in generating severe mental distress and suicide. "Suicidal processes" denote sequences of events in an individual's life that may culminate in a conscious wish to die and in suicide. Lectures and seminars are given on neurobiological, psychological, and sociological perspectives on mental ill health and suicide. Anthropological perspectives and social and cultural protective factors are also addressed.