The human approach to supportive interventions: The lived experience of people who care for others who suicide attempt

Title
The human approach to supportive interventions: The lived experience of people who care for others who suicide attempt
Publication Date
2021-06
Author(s)
Wayland, Sarah
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7040-6397
Email: swaylan2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:swaylan2
Coker, Sarah
Maple, Myfanwy
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9398-4886
Email: mmaple2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:mmaple2
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia
Place of publication
Australia
DOI
10.1111/inm.12829
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/52633
Abstract

There is currently limited information about the impact and experiences of a suicide attempt on the well-being of a person providing care before, during, or after the attempt. Scant evidence available suggests that providing care has a profound impact on the support person or carers' own physical and psychological health; they may experience adverse health, financial, and functional outcomes, collectively described as 'caregiver burden'. This project sought to understand insights into the experience of providing care for someone who has previously attempted suicide. The larger study was designed in three phases consisting of an online survey, semi-structured interviews, and a follow-up survey. This paper reports the qualitative findings of the interviews which were thematically analysed. Two symbiotic themes emerged: the lived experience of caring and the impact of engagement and support from the healthcare system. The authors concluded that that the carer position is a multidimensional role involving informal agreements and situational or time-based support. Further, awareness of this shifting relationship needs to be embedded in the provision of care by health professionals following a suicide attempt. Recommendations for enhanced health system response are proposed.

Link
Citation
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(3), p. 661-676
ISSN
1447-0349
1445-8330
Start page
661
End page
676

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