Andrew E. Slaby

Familial Responses to Mental Illness

An understanding of the sequential pattern and the variety of reactions can enable the therapist to intervene more appropriately and efficaciously

Dual suicide in homosexuals

Although it has been reported that approximately 5 per cent of all joint suicides involve homosexuals, a detailed case study of a suicide pact involving homosexuals has not appeared in the literature. This paper attempts to fill this gap by reporting a joint suicide attempt involving two male homosexuals. One of the men involved had an extremely conflictual relationship with his mother and in the past had attempted to arrange a dual suicide with female acquaintances. Unable to find a girl who would agree to this, he turned to a fellow homosexual. The other individual accepted the proposition more out of a desire to play out homosexual and aggressive fantasies than out of any real desire to die. The episode ended when this person called for help following the joint overdose. Ernest Jones and Sadger have noted the presence of homosexual urges and the desire for eternal union with the maternal figure in cases of dual suicide. Contemporary theorists have discussed the role in homosexuality of a primary conflict involving both the desire for and the dread of union with the mother. Such dynamics are clearly demonstrated to be operative in the young man who initiated the suicide pact. The paper further discusses the role of murderous wishes and sexual fantasies as important factors in the second young mans participation in the suicide pact and calls attention to the role of aggression in homosexuality. It is conceivable that dual suicides among homosexuals may be more common than has been reported. In fact, the authors have been informed of other cases appearing in the emergency rooms of big city hospitals that have not been reported. It is hoped that this article will stimulate further investigation.