The burden of living with and caring for a suicidal family member

Columba McLaughlin; Iain McGowan; Siobhan O'Neill; George Kernohan

doi:10.3109/09638237.2014.928402

The burden of living with and caring for a suicidal family member

Columba McLaughlin, Iain McGowan, Siobhan O'Neill, George Kernohan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

14 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: The family has a primary role in caring for family members who are suicidal and in the prevention of future suicide. However, the impact that suicidal behaviour has on these family members is poorly understood. Aim: To explore the lived experiences of participants who cared for suicidal family members.Method: Eighteen participants were interviewed using a short topic guide. Responses were digitally recorded and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: One overarching theme: 'Hard work for the whole family' and four sub themes: i) Family burden, ii) competing pressures, iii) secrecy and shame and iv) helplessness and guilt. Conclusions: Caring for a suicidal family member may be euphemistically summarised as ‘hard work’ that impacts heavily on the day to day tasks of other family members. Participants spent much time worrying and ruminating about the risk of suicide in their family member. Mental health care professionals ought to acknowledge and address the impact that suicidal behaviour has on family carers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	236-240
Journal	Journal of Mental Health
Volume	23
Issue number	5
Early online date	2 Jul 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3109/09638237.2014.928402
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2014

Bibliographical note

There was no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the contents of this article.
Reference text: Byrne, S. Morgan, S, Fitzpatrick, C., Boylan, C., Crowley, S., Gahan, H., Howley, J., Staunton, D., & Guerin, S. (2008). Deliberate self-harm in children and adolescents: A qualitative study exploring the needs of parents and carers.
Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 13(4), 493-504.

Daly, P. (2005). Mothers living with suicidal adolescents: A phenomenological study of their experiences. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 33 (3), 22-28.

Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (2000). ‘The discipline and practice of qualitative research’. In N. Denzin and Y. Lincoln (eds), Handbook of Qualitative Research (2nd Edn), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1-28.

Kitchener, B. & Jorm, A. (2002). Mental health first aid program. University of Melbourne: ORYGEN Research Centre.

Maris, R., Berman, A. & Silverman, M. (2000). Comprehensive textbook of suicidology. New York: The Guilford Press.

Newall, R. & Burnard, P. (2006). Vital notes for nurses: Research for evidence-based practice. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Owens, C., Owen, G., Belam, J., Lloyd, K., Rapport, F., Donovan, J., & Lambert, H. (2011). Recognising and responding to suicidal crisis within family and social networks: qualitative study. British Medical Journal, 343: d5801.

Raphael, H., Clarke, G., & Kumar, S. (2006). Exploring parents’ responses to their child’s deliberate self-harm. Health Education, 106(1), 9-20.

Tadros, G. & Jolley, D. (2001). The stigma of suicide. British Journal of Psychiatry, 179: 178 doi: 10.1192/bjp.179.2.178 (Accessed 27th July 2013).

Keywords

Suicide
suicidal behaviour
mental health
impact
burden on family members
informal carers.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3109/09638237.2014.928402

Burden_on_Carers_Submission[1]Accepted author manuscript, 34.1 KB

Cite this

@article{835df9be62b44256a2e5de692d0428c9,

title = "The burden of living with and caring for a suicidal family member",

abstract = "Background: The family has a primary role in caring for family members who are suicidal and in the prevention of future suicide. However, the impact that suicidal behaviour has on these family members is poorly understood. Aim: To explore the lived experiences of participants who cared for suicidal family members.Method: Eighteen participants were interviewed using a short topic guide. Responses were digitally recorded and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: One overarching theme: 'Hard work for the whole family' and four sub themes: i) Family burden, ii) competing pressures, iii) secrecy and shame and iv) helplessness and guilt. Conclusions: Caring for a suicidal family member may be euphemistically summarised as {\textquoteleft}hard work{\textquoteright} that impacts heavily on the day to day tasks of other family members. Participants spent much time worrying and ruminating about the risk of suicide in their family member. Mental health care professionals ought to acknowledge and address the impact that suicidal behaviour has on family carers.",

keywords = "Suicide, suicidal behaviour, mental health, impact, burden on family members, informal carers.",

author = "Columba McLaughlin and Iain McGowan and Siobhan O'Neill and George Kernohan",

note = "There was no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the contents of this article. Reference text: Byrne, S. Morgan, S, Fitzpatrick, C., Boylan, C., Crowley, S., Gahan, H., Howley, J., Staunton, D., & Guerin, S. (2008). Deliberate self-harm in children and adolescents: A qualitative study exploring the needs of parents and carers. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 13(4), 493-504. Daly, P. (2005). Mothers living with suicidal adolescents: A phenomenological study of their experiences. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 33 (3), 22-28. Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (2000). {\textquoteleft}The discipline and practice of qualitative research{\textquoteright}. In N. Denzin and Y. Lincoln (eds), Handbook of Qualitative Research (2nd Edn), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1-28. Kitchener, B. & Jorm, A. (2002). Mental health first aid program. University of Melbourne: ORYGEN Research Centre. Maris, R., Berman, A. & Silverman, M. (2000). Comprehensive textbook of suicidology. New York: The Guilford Press. Newall, R. & Burnard, P. (2006). Vital notes for nurses: Research for evidence-based practice. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Owens, C., Owen, G., Belam, J., Lloyd, K., Rapport, F., Donovan, J., & Lambert, H. (2011). Recognising and responding to suicidal crisis within family and social networks: qualitative study. British Medical Journal, 343: d5801. Raphael, H., Clarke, G., & Kumar, S. (2006). Exploring parents{\textquoteright} responses to their child{\textquoteright}s deliberate self-harm. Health Education, 106(1), 9-20. Tadros, G. & Jolley, D. (2001). The stigma of suicide. British Journal of Psychiatry, 179: 178 doi: 10.1192/bjp.179.2.178 (Accessed 27th July 2013).",

year = "2014",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3109/09638237.2014.928402",

language = "English",

volume = "23",

pages = "236--240",

journal = "Journal of Mental Health",

issn = "0963-8237",

publisher = "Taylor & Francis",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The burden of living with and caring for a suicidal family member

AU - McLaughlin, Columba

AU - McGowan, Iain

AU - O'Neill, Siobhan

AU - Kernohan, George

N1 - There was no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the contents of this article. Reference text: Byrne, S. Morgan, S, Fitzpatrick, C., Boylan, C., Crowley, S., Gahan, H., Howley, J., Staunton, D., & Guerin, S. (2008). Deliberate self-harm in children and adolescents: A qualitative study exploring the needs of parents and carers. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 13(4), 493-504. Daly, P. (2005). Mothers living with suicidal adolescents: A phenomenological study of their experiences. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 33 (3), 22-28. Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (2000). ‘The discipline and practice of qualitative research’. In N. Denzin and Y. Lincoln (eds), Handbook of Qualitative Research (2nd Edn), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1-28. Kitchener, B. & Jorm, A. (2002). Mental health first aid program. University of Melbourne: ORYGEN Research Centre. Maris, R., Berman, A. & Silverman, M. (2000). Comprehensive textbook of suicidology. New York: The Guilford Press. Newall, R. & Burnard, P. (2006). Vital notes for nurses: Research for evidence-based practice. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Owens, C., Owen, G., Belam, J., Lloyd, K., Rapport, F., Donovan, J., & Lambert, H. (2011). Recognising and responding to suicidal crisis within family and social networks: qualitative study. British Medical Journal, 343: d5801. Raphael, H., Clarke, G., & Kumar, S. (2006). Exploring parents’ responses to their child’s deliberate self-harm. Health Education, 106(1), 9-20. Tadros, G. & Jolley, D. (2001). The stigma of suicide. British Journal of Psychiatry, 179: 178 doi: 10.1192/bjp.179.2.178 (Accessed 27th July 2013).

PY - 2014/10/1

Y1 - 2014/10/1

N2 - Background: The family has a primary role in caring for family members who are suicidal and in the prevention of future suicide. However, the impact that suicidal behaviour has on these family members is poorly understood. Aim: To explore the lived experiences of participants who cared for suicidal family members.Method: Eighteen participants were interviewed using a short topic guide. Responses were digitally recorded and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: One overarching theme: 'Hard work for the whole family' and four sub themes: i) Family burden, ii) competing pressures, iii) secrecy and shame and iv) helplessness and guilt. Conclusions: Caring for a suicidal family member may be euphemistically summarised as ‘hard work’ that impacts heavily on the day to day tasks of other family members. Participants spent much time worrying and ruminating about the risk of suicide in their family member. Mental health care professionals ought to acknowledge and address the impact that suicidal behaviour has on family carers.

AB - Background: The family has a primary role in caring for family members who are suicidal and in the prevention of future suicide. However, the impact that suicidal behaviour has on these family members is poorly understood. Aim: To explore the lived experiences of participants who cared for suicidal family members.Method: Eighteen participants were interviewed using a short topic guide. Responses were digitally recorded and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: One overarching theme: 'Hard work for the whole family' and four sub themes: i) Family burden, ii) competing pressures, iii) secrecy and shame and iv) helplessness and guilt. Conclusions: Caring for a suicidal family member may be euphemistically summarised as ‘hard work’ that impacts heavily on the day to day tasks of other family members. Participants spent much time worrying and ruminating about the risk of suicide in their family member. Mental health care professionals ought to acknowledge and address the impact that suicidal behaviour has on family carers.

KW - Suicide

KW - suicidal behaviour

KW - mental health

KW - impact

KW - burden on family members

KW - informal carers.

UR - http://informahealthcare.com/doi/full/10.3109/09638237.2014.928402

U2 - 10.3109/09638237.2014.928402

DO - 10.3109/09638237.2014.928402

M3 - Article

VL - 23

SP - 236

EP - 240

JO - Journal of Mental Health

JF - Journal of Mental Health

SN - 0963-8237

IS - 5

ER -

The burden of living with and caring for a suicidal family member

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this