Division of Health Research, Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Psychol Psychother. 2023 Jun;96(2):426-447. doi: 10.1111/papt.12449. Epub 2023 Feb 14.
Friends and family members can be important sources of support for people who are or have been suicidal. This review aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence regarding carers' perspectives of supporting someone who has experienced suicidal behaviour.
Five electronic databases (Web of Science, CINAHL, PsychINFO, MEDLINE, and SocINDEX) were searched from inception to May 2022. Eligible qualitative studies were published in English and investigated the caring experiences of friends or family members of people who had experienced suicidal behaviour, defined as any form of suicidal ideation and/or attempts. Studies focused on non-suicidal self-injury or suicide bereavement were excluded. Data from 19 eligible studies were analysed using thematic synthesis.
Initial carer reactions to suicidal behaviour included profound anxiety and intensive monitoring for signs of increased suicide risk amongst those they supported. Carers also reported significant challenges with understanding how to provide effective interpersonal support following suicidal crises. Professional support was perceived to be most effective when provided in a timely, interpersonally sensitive and safety-focused manner. However, several studies detailed carers' difficulties accessing appropriate support and challenges managing their own distress.
Carers face significant challenges with knowing how to respond to suicidal behaviour, where to find appropriate help, and how to manage their own distress. Future research should seek to investigate the effectiveness of easily accessible methods of information provision and support tailored for carers of people who have experienced suicidal behaviour.
朋友和家人可以成为正在经历或曾经经历过自杀的人的重要支持来源。本综述旨在综合关于照顾者支持经历过自杀行为的人的观点的定性证据。
从建库到 2022 年 5 月，对五个电子数据库（Web of Science、CINAHL、PsychINFO、MEDLINE 和 SocINDEX）进行了检索。合格的定性研究以英文发表，调查了经历过自杀行为的人的朋友或家人的照顾经验，自杀行为定义为任何形式的自杀意念和/或尝试。不包括非自杀性自伤或自杀丧亲的研究。对 19 项合格研究的数据进行了主题综合分析。
照顾者对自杀行为的最初反应包括对支持的人自杀风险增加的强烈焦虑和密集监测。照顾者还报告说，在经历自杀危机后，很难理解如何提供有效的人际支持。当专业支持以及时、人际敏感和以安全为重点的方式提供时，被认为最有效。然而，有几项研究详细描述了照顾者在获得适当支持方面的困难以及在管理自己的痛苦方面的挑战。
照顾者在了解如何应对自杀行为、在哪里找到适当的帮助以及如何管理自己的痛苦方面面临重大挑战。未来的研究应调查为经历过自杀行为的人的照顾者提供易于获取的信息和支持的方法的有效性，并针对这些方法进行研究。
