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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Caring for a Family Member with Psychosis or Bipolar Disorder Who Has Experienced Suicidal Behaviour
T2 - An Exploratory Qualitative Study of an Online Peer-Support Forum
AU - Marshall, Paul
AU - Jones, Steven
AU - Gooding, Patricia
AU - Robinson, Heather
AU - Lobban, Fiona
PY - 2022/11/17
Y1 - 2022/11/17
N2 - Background. The likelihood of suicidal behaviour is elevated amongst people with psychosis or bipolar disorder. This study aimed to understand how carers experience supporting family members with psychosis or bipolar disorder who have also experienced suicidal behaviour. Methods. A qualitative thematic analysis of online peer forum posts was carried out on the Relatives Education and Coping Toolkit (REACT) website, an online intervention for carers of people with psychosis and bipolar disorder. Analysis was based on 178 posts by 29 forum users. Posts were selected based on their relevance to suicidal behaviour. Results. Three themes were generated. “Suicide as the ultimate threat” highlights fears emerging from carers’ difficulties with understanding and managing suicidal behaviour. “Bouncing from one crisis to another” reflects carers’ experiences of recurring crises and the challenges of relying on emergency healthcare support. “It definitely needs to be easier to get help” emphasises carers’ desires to be acknowledged by healthcare professionals and included in support offered to service users. Conclusions. Digital platforms, including online forums, brief interventions such as safety planning, and interagency crisis models, hold the potential to meet carers’ needs in this context. However, further research is required to investigate the effectiveness and implementation of these approaches.
AB - Background. The likelihood of suicidal behaviour is elevated amongst people with psychosis or bipolar disorder. This study aimed to understand how carers experience supporting family members with psychosis or bipolar disorder who have also experienced suicidal behaviour. Methods. A qualitative thematic analysis of online peer forum posts was carried out on the Relatives Education and Coping Toolkit (REACT) website, an online intervention for carers of people with psychosis and bipolar disorder. Analysis was based on 178 posts by 29 forum users. Posts were selected based on their relevance to suicidal behaviour. Results. Three themes were generated. “Suicide as the ultimate threat” highlights fears emerging from carers’ difficulties with understanding and managing suicidal behaviour. “Bouncing from one crisis to another” reflects carers’ experiences of recurring crises and the challenges of relying on emergency healthcare support. “It definitely needs to be easier to get help” emphasises carers’ desires to be acknowledged by healthcare professionals and included in support offered to service users. Conclusions. Digital platforms, including online forums, brief interventions such as safety planning, and interagency crisis models, hold the potential to meet carers’ needs in this context. However, further research is required to investigate the effectiveness and implementation of these approaches.
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph192215192
DO - 10.3390/ijerph192215192
M3 - Journal article
VL - 19
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
SN - 1660-4601
IS - 22
M1 - 15192
ER -