JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Suicide is a major cause of preventable death globally and leading cause of death by injury in Canada. In order to support people who experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors and to ultimately prevent people from dying by suicide, it is important to understand the individual, and familial experiences with the health care system.

Objective:

To explore how people who died by suicide, and their family members, interacted with the health care system.

Methods:

We will invite family members of 6 to 8 suicide victims to participate in the study by sharing their perspectives on both their relative’s as well as their own interactions with the health system. Interviews will take place in-person, will be audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically.

Results:

The results of the study are expected to be available in 12 months. We expect the results to shed light on the experiences of individuals who died by suicide, and the experience of their family members, with the health care system.

Conclusions:

Our study results may inform practice, policy and further research. They may shape how members of the health care system respond to people who are at risk of suicide, and their families.