Family Perspectives of Suicide - Outcomes for Youth

Abstract

"Are the suicidal an island of misery in an ocean of happiness, or the tip of the iceberg of suffering?" --Eckersley & Dear (2002:1898). 1. There were over 2000 suicide deaths reported in Australia for 2004. 2. The United Nations WHO report on World Suicide Deaths states that 1 million people take their own lives each year. More than the combined annual deaths from homicides and wars. 3. Suicide prevention remains a high priority for the Australian Government (National Suicide Prevention Strategy, (NSPS) 2002). 4. In 2006 the Australian Government allocated $7.8M for research into effective postvention support for the family members bereaved by the suicide of a family member. 5. Previous research has established that the first degree relatives of a suicide victim attempt suicide at a significantly higher rate than the general population. 6. There is a significant body of findings on family factors related to youth suicide attempters or completers; yet little research has been undertaken into family incidents of suicidality for those in older age brackets. 7. There is a lack of research into other aspects of familial transmission of suicidality such as damaging communication style, destructive family dynamics, boundary confusion, problem or inappropriate attachment issues, poor role modelling and lack of social cohesion or support.