Perceived needs of parents of adolescents with a history of suicide attempts: a qualitative exploration

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Iran. An adolescent's suicide attempt can significantly intensify parental psychological distress, thereby heightening their susceptibility to subsequent mental health difficulties. We sought to explore the needs of parents whose adolescents have a history of suicide attempts within the unique cultural context of Iran. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted. Our sampling strategy was purposive. Recruited participants were parents of adolescents with a documented history of suicide attempts admitted to psychiatric emergency wards. Conventional content analysis of 24 semi-structured interviews with 15 mothers and 9 fathers of adolescents with experience of suicide attempts was undertaken. Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. RESULTS: The first category consisted of three subcategories,1) prevention methods, 2) crisis management, and 3) care strategies for the adolescent surviving a suicide attempt. The second category also included subcategories related to (1) seeking help from mental health professionals and (2) the need for cultural and societal remediation. CONCLUSION: The needs of parents of adolescents who have attempted suicide were found to encompass informational, psychological, social, and cultural dimensions. Consequently, the results of this study directly inform key stakeholders, policymakers, healthcare administrators, and professionals within the health system. Specifically, these findings empower psychiatric nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists to comprehensively address parents' informational gaps and strategically support their psychological, cultural, and social well-being more comprehensively.