Abstract
There are concerns that involving adolescents bereaved by suicide and other traumatic death in research may cause distress and harm. However, no study has investigated such bereaved adolescents’ research experiences. In addition, no study has looked at the experiences of parents and clinicians as participants in adolescent suicide and traumatic death bereavement research. This study aimed to explore the short-term impact of research participation experienced by adolescents, parents, and clinicians. A total of 61 participants (adolescents, n = 17; parents, n = 12; clinicians, n = 32) filled out a short survey within two weeks of having taken part in a qualitative interview study. Data were analyzed descriptively. Most participants had experienced no distress while participating and no negative effects of participating; rather, participation was experienced as helpful for them and they would highly recommend participating in a study like this to others. A few adolescents and parents reported some distress, related to anxiety about participation and the unpleasantness of grief memories. The study clearly indicates that bereaved adolescents, parents and clinicians can safely participate in research interviews regarding their experiences of grief and help after suicide, generally valuing the opportunity to share their experience. To prevent and mitigate potential distress, training of research staff and implementation of appropriate participant distress protocols are imperative. Future studies could include longitudinal follow-up of participants to assess any longer-term consequences.
Highlights
Adolescents who are bereaved by the death of someone close to them, such as a family member or a friend, often experience short-term and long-term impacts regarding their grief, mental health and social functioning [1–5]
The original study, about which participants were asked about their participation experience, was a qualitative study that examined how to best help adolescents bereaved by suicide and other traumatic death
This study was a first to investigate the reactions of adolescents, parents, and clinicians regarding their participation in a study on adolescents bereaved by suicide and other traumatic death
Summary
Adolescents who are bereaved by the death of someone close to them, such as a family member or a friend, often experience short-term and long-term impacts regarding their grief, mental health and social functioning [1–5]. Compared to other types of bereavement, adolescents bereaved by suicide and other traumatic death can experience more pronounced feelings of shock, guilt, anger, and abandonment [3,4,6]. They can struggle more with “why” questions, finding meaning in the loss, and experience less social support [1–3,6]. They have an increased risk of mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and long-term increased risk of suicidal behavior compared to other bereaved and non-bereaved adolescents [7–9]. Clinicians could participate if they had at least five years of experience with providing professional help to bereaved adolescents
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