Exploring Parent Support Needs During and After Adolescent Suicide Crisis Emergency Department Visits: A Qualitative Investigation

BACKGROUND: Adolescents are the age cohort most likely to attend an emergency department (ED) for suicide crisis, often accompanied by a parent. Parents report feeling as though they are not appropriately supported to provide the critical life sustaining care their adolescent child needs after discharge from the ED. This study sought to understand what support parents need during and after the ED presentation. METHODS: Semi-structured, online interviews were conducted with 20 parents of adolescents (12-18 years) who had attended an Australian ED for suicide crisis. RESULTS: Reflexive thematic analysis indicated there were three domains of support parents' desired: (1) information about, and active involvement in, the emergency department care, (2) information about how to keep their adolescent child safe and support recovery, and (3) tools to support parents' own wellbeing. CONCLUSION: These findings provide a preliminary indication of the support parents need and what resources may need to be developed to educate and support parents, which could be integrated into the ED procedures. Improving the way in which parents are supported to care for their adolescent child may help reduce recurrent adolescent suicide attempts and improve parental wellbeing so they can more effectively care for their adolescent child. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Parents who had lived experience of attending the ED with their suicidal adolescent were involved in this study as peer researchers. These peer researchers helped devise the interview guide, conducted interviews with participants, and contributed to the analysis and the writing of this paper.