Document Type : Original Article
Researchers
Allameh Tabataba'i University
Ministerial Ethics Committee
The number of individuals suffering from mental health issues and attempting suicide is increasing today. Hopelessness is a significant and impactful predictor of suicidal thoughts. Hopelessness is also associated with increased psychological distress, and promoting hope can play a crucial role in reducing it. Furthermore, there is a negative relationship between feelings of hopelessness and quality of life, with hopelessness leading to a lower quality of life. Research indicates that hopelessness is modifiable, and its intensity can be reduced. International guidelines recommend the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as an effective intervention that can lead to improvement in hopelessness. However, many CBT techniques are indirect and not based on a comprehensive understanding of hopelessness. Therefore, considering research findings on the low effectiveness of existing psychotherapies in the realm of hopelessness, the low effectiveness of suicide-related treatments, the need to address the concept of quality of life and ways to improve it, the expansion of specialized interventions related to psychological distress, and the need to develop and formulate innovative treatments tailored to the culture, the present study takes steps towards identifying a therapeutic approach to address hopelessness and, consequently, reduce suicidal thoughts, improve psychological distress, and enhance quality of life.