An emerging body of international research suggests family caregivers may be a high-risk group for suicide, but the evidence has not been synthesised. Forty-eight peer-reviewed journal articles were ...included in this review, spanning low-, middle-, and high-income countries and a variety of illnesses and disabilities. The proportion of caregivers experiencing suicidal ideation ranged from 2.7% to 71%, with evidence of suicide attempts, deaths by suicide, and deaths by homicide-suicide also reported. Risk and protective factors varied across studies and there was little consideration of differences by caregiving relationship, type of illness/disability, or country. There is sufficient evidence to warrant concern for caregivers around the world and prompt action in policy and practice, but more rigorous research is required to draw clear, nuanced conclusions about risk and inform evidence-based prevention and intervention.
ObjectiveParents provide essential care for children with disabilities, but often at the expense of their own wellbeing. A growing body of evidence suggests unpaid carers may be a high-risk group for ...suicide,1 but there has been little research on suicidality in parent carers internationally and none in the UK. Our aim was to conduct the first UK study of suicide risk in parents caring for disabled children. The objectives were to identify (a) the proportion of parent carers who experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviours, and (b) the risk and protective factors for suicidality in this population.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of n=750 parent carers in England was conducted. The survey was co-designed with parent carers and included measures of demographics, caring role, social and professional support, physical health, and emotional wellbeing. Suicidal thoughts and behaviours were measured with questions adapted from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey.2 Frequency analyses were conducted to identify the proportion of carers experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Logistic regressions were conducted to identify risk and protective factors.Results42% of parents had experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviours while caring for a disabled child. More than half of those carers had never disclosed their thoughts or experiences. The majority of parents reporting suicidal thoughts had experienced them in the previous 12 months and approximately one-third of those reporting plans for suicide had made them in the previous year. In a multivariable model, depression, entrapment, dysfunctional coping, and having a mental health diagnosis prior to becoming a carer were significant predictors of suicidal thoughts and behaviours while caring.ConclusionParent carers are a high-risk group for suicide, with rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviours far exceeding those seen in the general population. In both policy and practice there is an urgent need to identify and support parent carers who are contemplating suicide. Risk factors such as depression, entrapment, and dysfunctional coping are obvious targets for individual-level interventions, but it is also important to address the broader social, political, and economic factors that might contribute to feelings of depression and entrapment or foster a reliance on dysfunctional coping strategies. More research is required to identify the number of parent carers who have died by suicide, understand how suicidal thoughts and behaviours develop over the caring trajectory, and explore the lived experience of suicidality for parents and their disabled children.ReferencesO’Dwyer, et al. Comprehensive Psychiatry 2016.McManus, et al. NHS Digital 2014.
There is a growing body of evidence on suicide risk in family carers, but minimal research on parents caring for children with disabilities and long-term illnesses. The aim of this study was to ...conduct the first dedicated research on suicide risk in parent carers and identify: (1) the number of parent carers experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and (2) the risk and protective factors for suicidality in this population.OBJECTIVEThere is a growing body of evidence on suicide risk in family carers, but minimal research on parents caring for children with disabilities and long-term illnesses. The aim of this study was to conduct the first dedicated research on suicide risk in parent carers and identify: (1) the number of parent carers experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and (2) the risk and protective factors for suicidality in this population.A cross-sectional survey of parent carers in England (n = 750), co-produced with parent carers. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors were measured with questions from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Frequencies summarized the proportion of carers experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Logistic regressions identified risk and protective factors.METHODA cross-sectional survey of parent carers in England (n = 750), co-produced with parent carers. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors were measured with questions from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Frequencies summarized the proportion of carers experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Logistic regressions identified risk and protective factors.42% of parents had experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviors while caring for a disabled or chronically ill child. Only half had sought help for these experiences. Depression, entrapment, dysfunctional coping, and having a mental health diagnosis prior to caring, were significant risk factors.RESULTS42% of parents had experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviors while caring for a disabled or chronically ill child. Only half had sought help for these experiences. Depression, entrapment, dysfunctional coping, and having a mental health diagnosis prior to caring, were significant risk factors.Parent carers contemplate suicide at levels that exceed those of other family carers and the general public. There is an urgent need, in policy and practice, to recognize parent carers as a priority group for prevention and intervention.CONCLUSIONParent carers contemplate suicide at levels that exceed those of other family carers and the general public. There is an urgent need, in policy and practice, to recognize parent carers as a priority group for prevention and intervention.
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