Better support: Understanding the needs of family and friends when a loved one attempts suicide

Abstract

<p><b>Project Overview</b></p> <p>With funding from both the Grenet Merrin and Ian Potter Foundations, and support from academics based at the University of New England, SANE Australia has undertaken Better Support, a two phased project to explore the needs of families and friends supporting those who have attempted suicide. The project explored the impact of the experience on the person providing care, as well as their perception of the support they received, and the types of support they would have found helpful at the time.</p> <p> Support after a suicide attempt is typically provided by both health professionals and families, friends and significant others. However, little is known about the impact of providing this support on a nonprofessional care-giver (Ghio et al, 2011).</p> <p> In the <b>first phase</b> of the project (August 2017 to December 2018), a mixed method study was undertaken, aimed at answering the following questions:</p> <p> <ol><li>What are the experiences of family, friends and significant others who support a loved one after a suicide attempt?</li><li> What resources, interventions or improvements would family, friends and significant others like to see in order to provide better support to someone who has attempted suicide?</li></ol></p> <p> An online survey exploring care-giving after a suicide attempt was conducted between 27 November 2017 and 5 February 2018.</p> <p> Thirty-two semi-structured telephone interviews were also carried out and sought to understand:</p> <p><ul><li> the care-giver role</li><li> the impact of mental illness</li><li> interactions with health services</li><li> the support needs of care-givers and what may help others in a similar situation.</li></ul><p>The <b>second phase</b> of the project involves the development and trial of resources to help provide <b>"Better Support"</b> to the families and friends of people who attempt suicide, and will be completed by June 2020.</p>