Abstract
Background: Family members often provide informal care following a suicide attempt. Carers may be vulnerable to caregiver burden. Yet, little is known about what contributes to this. Aims: To determine the predictors of caregiver burden in those carers who support people who have attempted suicide. Method: An online survey of 435 participants assessed exposure to suicide, caring behaviors, and psychological variables and caregiver burden. Results: A multivariate model explained 52% of variance in caregiver burden. Being female, closeness to the person, impact of suicide attempt, frequency of contact pre-attempt, and psychological distress were positively associated with caregiver burden. Confidence in supporting the person after suicide attempt, perceived adequacy of healthcare the person received and the support the carer received, and suicidal ideation of the carer were negatively associated with caregiver burden. Moderation analysis suggested that carers with high levels of distress reported negative association between suicidal ideation and caregiver burden. Limitations: The cross-sectional online survey design of self-identified carers is a limitation of the study. Conclusion: Carers are highly distressed, and if unsupported report increased suicide ideation. In their caring roles they may have contact with support services, thus attending to their needs may ameliorate caregiver burden and associated negative outcomes.
Highlights
Members often provide informal care following a suicide attempt
Participants reported high levels of relational closeness with the supported person, impact of the suicide attempt, frequency of contact, stigma related to isolation, suicidal ideation, and psychological distress were associated with high caregiver burden
R(426) = .24, p < .001 and time since last attempt, r(433) = À.11, p = .026, were significantly correlated with caregiver burden, and were used as covariates in the multivariate model
Summary
Members often provide informal care following a suicide attempt. Carers may be vulnerable to caregiver burden. Method: An online survey of 435 participants assessed exposure to suicide, caring behaviors, and psychological variables and caregiver burden. Closeness to the person, impact of suicide attempt, frequency of contact pre-attempt, and psychological distress were positively associated with caregiver burden. Confidence in supporting the person after suicide attempt, perceived adequacy of healthcare the person received and the support the carer received, and suicidal ideation of the carer were negatively associated with caregiver burden. Moderation analysis suggested that carers with high levels of distress reported negative association between suicidal ideation and caregiver burden. Conclusion: Carers are highly distressed, and if unsupported report increased suicide ideation In their caring roles they may have contact with support services, attending to their needs may ameliorate caregiver burden and associated negative outcomes.
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