Suicidal ideation and resilience in family carers of people with dementia: A pilot qualitative study

Abstract

Objectives: Family carers of people with dementia have higher than average rates of depression, anxiety and hopelessness. While these are all risk factors for suicide, there has been no research on suicidal ideation in this population. The aims of this pilot study were to conduct an initial exploration of carers’ experiences of suicidality and identify factors associated with risk and resilience, which could be used to guide further research.

Method: A descriptive qualitative approach was taken. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine carers of people with dementia (four male, five female) and transcripts were analysed thematically.

Results: Three themes were identified in the data – ‘experiences of suicidal ideation’, ‘risk factors’ and ‘resilience’. Four of the nine participants had experienced suicidal thoughts and two had made preparations for a suicidal act. Risk factors included pre-existing mental health problems, physical health conditions, and conflict with other family or care staff. Factors positively associated with resilience included the use of positive coping strategies, faith, social support and personal characteristics.

Conclusion: Some people contemplate suicide while caring for a family member with dementia. Further research is required to confirm the rate of suicidal ideation in the caring population and the relative contribution of factors associated with risk and resilience. In the meantime, service providers and health professionals should be taking steps to identify and support carers currently experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Keywords:

• suicide
• mental health
• resilience
• caregivers
• dementia

Acknowledgements

Siobhan O'Dwyer is supported by a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (Carers and Consumers). The study was funded by an early-career-researcher-mentored grant from the Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation. The authors wish to thank Carers Queensland and the study's Consumer Advisory Panel for their assistance in developing the interview protocol and recruiting participants for the study; the members of the Centre for Health Practice Innovation's Ageing Publication Syndicate for their comments on an early draft of this manuscript; and the amazing carers who generously and bravely shared their experiences for this study.

Notes

Notes:

¹PWD = person with dementia.

²H. Degree = higher degree; Cert/Dip = certificate or diploma.

³Unemployed = not working and not looking for work; Job seeker = not working, but looking for work.

⁴Always = it is difficult all the time; Sometimes = it is difficult some of the time; Occasionally = it is not too bad.