TY - JOUR
T1 - Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Parents Caring for Children with Disabilities and Long-Term Illnesses
AU - O'Dwyer, Siobhan T
AU - Sansom, Anna
AU - Mars, Becky
AU - Reakes, Lisa
AU - Andrewartha, Charmaine
AU - Melluish, Julia
AU - Walker, Anna
AU - Biddle, Lucy
AU - Slater, Tom
AU - Burrows, Dan
AU - Hastings, Richard P
AU - Moran, Paul
AU - Stallard, Paul
AU - Janssens, Astrid
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - OBJECTIVE: 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.METHOD: 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.
RESULTS: 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.CONCLUSION: 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.
AB - OBJECTIVE: 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.METHOD: 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.
RESULTS: 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.CONCLUSION: 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.
KW - Caregivers
KW - disabled children
KW - parent carer
KW - patient and public involvement
KW - suicidal ideation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85197622993&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13811118.2024.2363230
DO - 10.1080/13811118.2024.2363230
M3 - Article
C2 - 38949265
SN - 1381-1118
VL - 29
SP - 468
EP - 485
JO - Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research
JF - Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research
M1 - doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2024.2363230
ER -