“Finding a safe space”: A qualitative study of what makes help helpful for adolescents bereaved by suicide

Abstract

Experiencing a death by suicide is a devastating event in the lives of adolescents; however, little is known about what makes help helpful according to their experiences. Thematic analysis of individual and group interview data (N = 18) yielded four themes: feeling connected with, and understood by a helper, having a sense of control over, and access to the help as needed. Findings indicate that help should be based on supportive and educational approaches with respect to the adolescents’ agency and the family context. Help must be accessible on a long-term basis while catering for flexible usage.

Acknowledgments

We are most grateful to the participants for sharing their experiences, and to the numerous organizations and individuals who helped with recruitment and/or hosted the focus groups, especially: The Compassionate Friends Victoria, Support After Suicide Jesuits Social Services, Standby Support After Suicide, headspace National, Anglicare Suicide Prevention and Grief Support South Australia, Sabrina’s Reach 4 Life and the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement.

Additional information

Funding

K. A. was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship [1157796] and an Early Career Researcher Grant of The University of Melbourne [ECR1202020]. J. P. is funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant [GNT1173126]. The funding bodies had no role in the design of the study, the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, the writing of the report, and the decision to submit it for publication.