Background: Each year about 9000 people try to commit suicide in Swedish in patient care. There is an unreported number of suicide attempts in Sweden, but an estimation is a total of 20 000 cases yearly. A prior suicide attempt is the biggest risk for dying by suicide. There has been limited research focused on patients' experiences of surviving suicide attempts. Little is also known about how patients perceive health care personnel's attitudes in connection to the suicide attempt. Nurses have an important role in the care of suicidal patients.

Aim: The aim of this study were to illuminate patients' experiences of attempted suicide and how they perceived the attitudes of health care personnel in connection to the suicide attempt.

Method: A literature-based study were conducted, based on analysis of nine qualitative articles.

Results: The results are presented in three main themes and eight sub-themes. The main themes were 'Experiences of attempted suicide', 'Experience of health care personnel's attitudes' and "Returning to life".

Conclusion: Suicide were described as an escape from an unbearable suffering. Patients had an intense longing to be confirmed and seen in their suffering. Health care personnel's attitudes affect the patients' suicidality and experiences of the received care.