Experiences of parents whose sons or daughters have (had) attempted suicide. (11th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buus, Niels; Caspersen, Jimmy; Hansen, Rasmus; Stenager, Elsebeth; Fleischer, Elene
• Is Part Of: Journal of advanced nursing. Volume 70:Number 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 823
• Page End: 832
• Publication Date: 2013-09-11
• Subjects: Nursing -- Periodicals; 610.7305
• DOI: 10.1111/jan.12243
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-2402

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jan12243-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jan12243-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>The aim of this exploratory study was to gain further insights into the experiences of parents of sons or daughters who have attempted suicide and how these parents respond to the increased psychosocial burden following the suicide attempt(s).</p> </sec> <sec id="jan12243-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Suicide is a major public health problem and relatives are understood as playing an important role in suicide prevention; however, suicide and suicidal behaviour affect the relatives' lives profoundly, both emotionally and socially, and the psychosocial impact on families is underresearched.</p> </sec> <sec id="jan12243-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Focus groups with parents of sons or daughters who have attempted suicide.</p> </sec> <sec id="jan12243-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>In January and February 2012, we interviewed two groups of parents recruited at a counselling programme for relatives of persons who have attempted suicide. The analysis combined a thematic analysis with a subsequent analysis of how the themes were negotiated in the conversational interactions. The findings were interpreted and discussed within an interactionist framework.</p> </sec> <sec id="jan12243-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Findings</title> <p>The participants in the study described their experiences as a double trauma, which included the trauma of the suicide attempt(s) and the subsequent psychosocial impact on the family's well‐being. The pressure on the parents was intense and the fundamentally unpredictable character of suicide attempts was frequently emphasized.</p> </sec> <sec id="jan12243-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Being the parent of a child who attempts suicide meant managing a life‐threatening situation and the additional moral stigma. In part, the participants did this in the group by negotiating the character of the suicide attempt(s) and who was responsible.</p> </sec> </abstract>