Objective: The increased attempted suicide rate is one of the main problems healthcare systems face in many societies. Social meaning is one of the main fields of studying suicide attempts. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the motives of suicide attempts among Iranian women.

Method: To explore suicide motives, history of medical or psychological issues, family relationships, and environmental conditions, participants were interviewed individually. The present study comprised semi-structured interviews involving 52 women who had attempted suicide and subsequently been hospitalised. Finally, the data were transcribed, categorised and narrated.

Results: The study identified two types of suicide meanings: escape and appeal. Escape suicide attempts were motivated by a desire to run away from intolerable situations in the family or social life. Escape suicide attempts were characterised by flight from grief, loss of honour, shame, infamy or memories of failure incidents. In appeal suicide attempts, participants experienced high pressure or control from husbands or other heads of families and the suicide attempts were used as a strong request to make her husband or family change. Other participants attempted suicide when their honours or masteries were threatened, or when they had committed deeds associated with great shame. The results also showed that several participants provided clear examples of patriarchic oppression as a strong underlying mechanism for suicide motivation.

Conclusions: As the results of our study revealed that family and gender structures play integral roles in motives of suicide attempts, future research among Iranian men is suggested.