Exploring the Processes Involved in Seeking Help from a General Practitioner for Young People Who Have Been at Risk of Suicide.

Jack Farr,Hollie Richardson,Maria Michail,Andrew D R Surtees

doi:10.3390/ijerph18042120

Abstract

General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in the early identification and management of suicide risk in young people. However, little is known about the processes involved in how, when and why a young person decides to seek help from their GP. Eight young people, aged 17–23, took part in semi-structured interviews exploring their experiences of help seeking when feeling suicidal. Data were analysed using framework analysis. The analysis identified three main themes and seven subthemes. The main themes explored were: understanding when to seek help from a GP, barriers and facilitating factors at the GP consultation, and help seeking as a non-linear and dynamic process. The processes involved in how, when and why young people seek help from a GP when feeling suicidal were found to be dynamic and to fluctuate over time. Help seeking was initially related to how young people were able to understand and articulate their distress, the availability of informal support networks, and their perception of the GP as a source of help. During a GP consultation, help seeking was influenced by how safe and supported the young people felt. Perceived GP training, communication and validation of young people’s concerns were important factors to help facilitate this process. Subsequent help seeking was influenced by prior experience of GP consultations and the availability of alternative support.

Highlights

IntroductionIn the UK, in 2018, there was a 22% 1-year increase in suicide rates in those under the age of 24 and the highest ever recorded suicide rate for young females since 1981 [4]
The overarching themes cover the process of help seeking from a General practitioners (GPs); starting with the process of when young people first considered seeking help, the process when they tried to seek help, and how the process changed following their GP consultations
The findings of this study show that young people are aware of the negative attitudes that GPs might hold in relation to self-harm and suicidal behaviour

Summary

Introduction

In the UK, in 2018, there was a 22% 1-year increase in suicide rates in those under the age of 24 and the highest ever recorded suicide rate for young females since 1981 [4]. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that for each person who dies by suicide, there are a further 20 people who have made a suicide attempt [5]. Suicidal ideation and self-harm are very high in this age group and are associated with completed suicide [6]. Self-harm in particular has been shown to be the single greatest predictor of suicide, with 50% of young people who died by suicide having previously self-harmed [7]

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