Person-centred suicide prevention: key elements from the perspective of people living with suicidality.

PURPOSE

The perspectives of individuals with lived experience are essential to understanding how care practices support or hinder person-centred suicide prevention. This study explores experiences of individuals who sought healthcare in Sweden during suicidal crises.

METHODS

In-depth interviews with 28 individuals with current or past suicidal behaviour were analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutical approach.

RESULTS

Six themes emerged: (1) Hoping for the best, while preparing for the worst, (2) The risks of help-seeking, (3) In need of a safe space, (4) Support from professionals, (5) "Now it's your turn", and (6) A shared journey. Findings indicate that individuals with suicidal behaviour view themselves as motivated and capable partners in shaping the care process and believe that co-creating care can help delay or lessen exacerbations. Participants who co-created their care felt better prepared for self-care during early escalation and more confident that, if their condition worsened, they and their healthcare team could address a shared challenge.

CONCLUSION

According to participants, key elements of person-centred care include early engagement, long-term goals, and planning for crises. During intense suicidality, they emphasised the need for supportive environments and relationships-over mere security. Mutual trust between patient and healthcare team was seen as essential.