Strategies that could  help parents better  identify and respond  to suicide risk

McCarthy, B. (2023). Strategies that could help parents better identify and respond to suicide risk (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Practice (Social Practice)). Unitec, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6268

Abstract

RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1 What was the awareness of parents and guardians in relation to… prior to their gaining the knowledge of their children's suicidal thoughts or attempts at suicide? 2 What were the responses of parents and guardians and support services, immediately and over time, when they became aware that suicidal issues were present with their children? 3 To what extent were parents and guardians prepared for the possibility of a suicidal event and what was the value of support services post event? 4 How could parents and guardians be better resourced around suicide awareness and prevention, and around post-event recovery? 5 What are the demographics of the participant group? ABSTRACT This research explores youth suicide prevention strategy and the role that parents have in youth suicide prevention. Through participants’ interviews on their experience of their child’s suicide, we hope to discover strategies that could help parents better identify and respond to suicide risk, and for community agencies to use information from this research to develop better suicide prevention strategies for parents to use with their adolescences. This research was based on lived experiences from six parents and one whangai carer (three Māori, two Pasifika and two Pākehā) collected in 2021. Six who had lost a child to suicide and one who had survived but has had multiple serious suicide attempts. These all happened in the period of 2014 and 2018. The process was undertaken with a narrative interview approach guided by a small number of pre-set questions and a larger number of interview prompts used to deepen the conversation if needed. The verbatim was then analysed by thematic analysis which demonstrated and supported themes in the literature such as current, relatively recent and life-time indicators of suicide risk. The analysis showed consistent predicted and emerging themes in the narratives. The main areas of risk were mental health and drug use concerns; and prior self-harm or suicide attempt; cultural disconnection; the presence of abuse and trauma; and relationship issues particularly parental separation; and frequently very early in life. Key issues were the failure of many of the parents to recognise and /or respond to risk factors, particularly their own trauma issues and the failure of mainstream mental health services to respond to suicide attempts appropriately. Cultural practices and services were often absent or unhelpful and, in some circumstances, cultural services needed to work more closely with mainstream services to prevent further suicide attempts. Important post-suicide themes included powerful post-suicide depression in the male participants; the ineffectiveness of victim support; the value of whānau, marae and community support; as well as the power of love and commitment from whānau. Within these themes the issues of ideation, connection and capability and contagion play out. The research confirmed the clear gaps found in the literature review around education and support for parents on youth suicide prevention. Participants confirmed there was little to no resources currently available specifically for parents with adolescents around this topic. Parents stated they had to search for support and even then, it was not guaranteed

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Applied Practice Dissertations and Theses

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