The psychosocial needs of parents of adolescents who attempt suicide

Abstract

This qualitative study explored and described the psychosocial needs of parents of adolescents who had recently attempted suicide. Ten purposively selected parents (females = 10; age range 29 to 59) participated in semi-structured individual interviews on their lived experiences after their child attempted suicide. Thematic analysis of the data revealed the parents’ psychological needs after the attempted suicide by their minor child to be characterised by emotional turmoil including feelings of regret, self-blame, guilt, fear, and anxiety. The parents’ social needs included resources for rebuilding their disturbed family relationships and coping mechanisms. Mental healthcare providers to parents of adolescents who survive suicide attempts should aim to help parents manage the complex feelings they experience and improve their self-awareness and parenting skills to prevent future adolescent suicide attempts.

Keywords:

• adolescent
• family
• parent
• parenting
• South Africa
• suicide attempt

ORCID

Anna E. van der Wath http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5117-9272