Table 1 Core Codes identified within Narratives

Sub-Codes: n/a

Example: “I was so depressed last year, I was working in a place where I was bullied and made to feel worthless by some of my co-workers. I was angry at the world, I didn’t understand how come I had a mental illness and other people were fine.”

Sub-Codes: Expressions of hope, within others or within self; Fighting, within others or within self; Interpersonal, within others or within self; Intrapersonal, within others or within self; Compelling to stay alive, within others or within self; Other, within others or within self.

Example: “I am able to find the beauty in life and the small things that bring me joy. I try to fill my days with laughter, smiles, good humor, coffee and meaningful conversations.”

Sub-Codes: Specific Audience

Example: “The truth is that you are worth it, and your life is worth it.”

Sub-Codes: General suicidal ideation, current or historic; Active suicidal ideation, current or historic; Passive suicidal ideation, current or historic; NSSI, current or historic; Suicide planning, current or historic; Suicide attempt; current or historic.

Example: “I clearly remember thinking, ‘Maybe the plane will go down and keep me from having to deal with all this.’”

Sub-Codes: Helpline, helpful or unhelpful experience; Hospitalization, helpful or unhelpful experience; Medication, helpful or unhelpful experience; Supports; Family, friends, partner, friends; Psychological treatment, helpful or unhelpful experience; Other, helpful or unhelpful experience.

Example: “At the psychiatric hospital, I was surrounded by people whose experiences were much like mine. I heard familiar stories. I learned new ways to cope. I realized I had options. Most importantly, however, I saw I was not alone. I got help.”

Sub-Codes: Escape; Exhaustion; Interpersonal; Overwhelmed; Feeling Worthless; Other.

Example: “I want to die because I’m tired of the pain.”

Sub-Codes: Personification of mental illness; Stigma; Trauma; Specific diagnosis, Anxiety, Bipolar, Depression, Psychosis, PTSD, Other Diagnosis; Other

Example: “Not everyone who dies by suicide has depression. There is a high correlation between mental illness and completed suicide in that 90 percent of those who die by suicide meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental illness; however, depression is by no means a death sentence.”

Sub-Codes: n/a

Example: “I know that you may feel worthless, chaotic, desperate and alone. I know people may call you “crazy,” “insane” or “weird.” I know this. I’ve been called all of those things by people who didn’t understand.”